A STUDY OF THE GERMAN SOCİAL STUDİES CURRİCULUM: THE CASE OF BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG

Abstract

In Turkey, the social studies course is designed to include learning objectives related to history, geography, civic education, and rules of social life. In the German state of Baden-Württemberg, on the other hand, the course is designed to include learning objectives for social life and civic education that are independent of the learning objectives for history and geography. Separate courses for history and geography are also planned. In this study, which aims to examine the social studies curriculum of the German state of Baden-Württemberg, the document analysis method was used, and the descriptive analysis method was used to analyze the data. In line with the findings obtained, it was found that skills training was intensively included in the curriculum. Results showed that the subjects and outcomes are compatible with each other and that they are mostly related to citizenship education. It is understood that the curriculum aims to raise European citizens with political awareness as well as good German citizens. The curriculum focuses mainly on topics such as social life, rights, responsibilities, media and its impact on society, participation, politics, peace, human rights, decision-making processes in Germany and the European Union, migration, and life in Europe. At the end of the study, suggestions were made to renew the program, which has not been updated since 2016, in the context of changing global conditions and views of citizenship, to formally include a measurement and evaluation section in the program, and to make the program more functional.