Social Studies: A Curriculum Guide for the Middle Level

Saskatchewan Learning

In a resource-based program, teachers can assist the development of attitudes and abilities needed for independent, lifelong learning by using a variety of resources and instructional approaches. Teachers, in collaboration with teacher-librarians or other personnel, can plan to use resources in diverse ways for different purposes. This approach teaches students the processes required to locate, select, organize, analyze and apply information.

Resource-based learning offers students and teachers increased opportunities to share the responsibility for determining the skills, processes and resources for individual learning requirements. Students in resource-based classrooms learn to select resources, in a variety of media, that are best suited to their learning needs, abilities and interests. Resource-based education accommodates all learning styles and provides opportunities for the exceptional student and for the student who learns in a different manner.

The following guidelines will help teachers to implement resource-based learning in Social Studies classrooms.

The teachers should:

• involve students in the planning process whenever appropriate by discussing unit topics, objectives, resources, activities, concepts, interests and needs
• allow flexibility and choice over the course of the school year by negotiating such things as research topics, activities and projects with students
• select a wide range of visual, auditory and human resources
• encourage students to explore a wide range of print and non-print material for information and enjoyment, and to investigate a variety of sources such as those found in school and public libraries, electronic databases and at home or in the immediate community
• model resource use by performing as a co-learner with the students and by choosing diverse resources for instruction and student use
• include learning experiences that incorporate the need to locate, analyze, organize and apply information gathered
• instruct students about how to determine the skills and identify the resources that they will need to accomplish a learning task or address personal needs and interests
• design learning activities that incorporate resource-based assignments and unit projects
• collaborate with teacher-librarians and other personnel in planning and teaching units of study.