Teacher interviews relating to the difficult issues in the teaching and learning of social studies course

In this study, it is aimed to reveal the problems, reasons and solution suggestions of social studies teachers in teaching and learning social studies lesson. The research was designed with the scanning model, which is one of the qualitative research methods. The data related to the research were obtained from 36 social studies teachers working in the province of Tokat in the 2021-2022 academic year. The teachers involved in the research were determined by convenience sampling method. The data of the research were obtained by using a semi-structured interview form consisting of 7 questions, and the data were tabulated under certain themes and subjected to content analysis. As a result of the teacher interviews, it was revealed that there were difficulties in the learning and learning of history and geography subjects. Teacher-based, student-based, program and used method-technical and material-related problems are shown as the reasons for the difficulties experienced. If we look at it from the students' point of view, the fact that the social studies course contains abstract topics causes it to be seen as a boring and rote-based course by the students. In addition, other factors such as indifference to the lesson, low motivation, not doing homework and repeating the lesson are also effective. From the point of view of teachers; Reasons such as finding the undergraduate education and school experience courses insufficient, not following the innovations in their fields, having problems with technology, and low motivation can be listed. From the point of view of method and technique use, the use of lecture technique in general, drama, travel-observation, virtual museum applications etc. There are problems of not giving enough place to methods and techniques. In terms of material usage; The main problems are not going out of traditional materials such as textbooks and insufficient use of technology. Another problem that emerges as a problem in the social studies course teaching process is that some concepts and subjects are referred to as "difficult". In this sense, it is seen that the subjects defined as difficult to learn mostly belong to the discipline of history. Seeing history subjects as rote-based, difficult and boring leads to a decrease in motivation for the lesson. This situation negatively affects the social studies course teaching process. For this reason, it is very important to use materials that will increase the interest in the lesson and make it fun.