A Different Experience with Drama for Preservice Social Studies Teachers: I Discover My Field

Abstract

Social studies preservice teachers will start their career with the aim of raising “good person-good citizen” for the ideal society. Believing in this important purpose and being aware of the field will contribute to the realization of the ideal society objective. Yet, it is necessary to try to raise this awareness in the most enjoyable and interactive way possible. Thus, the aim of the study is to develop social studies preservice teachers' awareness of their field with the drama method. In the study conducted with action research, a 15-week road map designed with the drama method was followed for social studies preservice teachers to take an active role in the learning-teaching process, to increase their awareness of their profession, and to discover the content of their field. The sample of the study consisted of 32 preservice teachers studying in the sophomore year of social studies teaching at the education faculty of a state university in the first semester of the 2019–2020 academic year. It is possible to say that the awareness of the preservice teachers in the sample concerning their discipline increased at the end of the 15-week drama education process.

Keywords:

• Drama
• social studies
• preservice teacher