Literacy Skills in Social Studies Curriculum

Abstract

In this study, it is aimed to examine the learning outcome in the social studies course (SSC) curriculum in Turkey in terms of seven literacy skills as “environmental literacy”, “digital literacy”, “financial literacy”, “map literacy”, “legal literacy”, “media literacy” and “political literacy”. This research is designed according to the case study that is often used in qualitative research. In the study, literacy skills in the current SSC curriculum in Turkey were evaluated as a situation; interviews and documents constituted multiple sources of information of the research. As a result of the research, it was determined that a significant part of the learning outcome in the curriculum of SSC (84%) was related to literacy skills. While the highest gain was in the “financial literacy” (f=25) skill area, it was determined that the least gain was in the “media literacy” (f=6) skill area. In addition, it was determined that the gains related to literacy skills were included on the basis of grade level, the maximum fifth grade (f=31); at least at the fourth grade level (f=24). However, the most “environmental literacy” and “financial literacy” at the fourth and fifth grade level, “legal literacy” and “political literacy” at the sixth grade, and gains in “political literacy” skills at the seventh grade level were included the most.