Determining the opinions of prospective social science teachers about teaching local history in social science lessons (MAKU sample)

Social Science appears as a subject putting the individual in the centre and studying the interaction of the individual with various factors around him/her. The Social studies course aims to give us some knowledge, skills and values in order to be an effective citizens. In this point, we employ several methods, techniques, etc. effectively. Teaching local history is one of them. In new history teaching programmes, it is especially emphasized the necessity to give place to local history topics. Local history enables the child to know the immediate and more abstract surrounding where he lives. While learning this immediate surrounding, he will also analyse the changes in time. By this way, the child will be able to comprehend the relation between past, today and future more easily. Since these situations mentioned will occur with the activities used by the teacher, it is necessary for the teacher to have enough knowledge over teaching local history. With the aim of determining their opinions on the importance of teaching local history, this study was carried out with 68 prospective social science teachers studying at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Department of Social Science Teaching in 2022-2023 Academic Year. Within this study, qualitative research method was used. The data of the study was gathered by using semi-structured interview form. 8 questions which were prepared by taking expert opinion were asked to the prospective teachers. Data were analysed by using Content Analysis. According to the results obtained in the study, the definitions of local history term made by the prospective social science teachers showed similarities with the definitions in the literature. Most of the prospective teachers stated that local history teaching should be covered in social science lessons. Prospective teachers emphasized that the benefits obtained from teaching local history provide effective history teaching, ease learning, provide quality learning. The sources which can be used within social science lessons mentioned by prospective teachers are trips, scientific publishes, archive documents, written or oral sources. Prospective teachers associated local history with learning culture and heritage topic in the curriculum of social science learning area the most. Prospective teachers said that local history can also be used in teaching under the topics TR Revolution History and Kemalism, Old Turkic States, Ottoman State and war of Independence. Prospective teachers indicated the problems which might appear while teaching local history as inadequacy of the resources, the difficulty in reaching the resources, readiness level. Prospective teachers expressed that the education they receive during their undergraduate education will contribute them to teach local history in their teaching process.