Browsing by Author "Tuomainen, Laura"

In this thesis, the participation and action-based learning in exercises of primary school social study textbooks are evaluated. The purpose of this research is to evaluate exercises guiding to participation and action-based learning in textbooks and how these exercises support such activities. Another aim is to assess how textbooks on social studies acknowledge, support and reinforce the functional nature of social studies. The data consist of altogether eight textbooks from two separate series of textbooks (Forum by Otava & Vaikuttaja by Sanoma Pro) encompassing both reading and exercise books. The research is a theory-based content analysis, the theoretical reference frame of which is used to illustrate the participation and functionality present in textbooks. The theoretical reference frame focuses on problem-based, experience and societal learning and through the goals of the curriculum acknowledges the theory of taxonomy for learning by Krathwohl & Anderson. The exercises on social study textbooks are classified with the help of these theories by creating various manifestations for participation and functionality. The obtained results show that the textbooks include exercises that increase participation and action-based learning where learning is guided on individual, pair and group levels. The exercises for individuals guide to the reflection of one’s own life and to the acknowledgement of constructs in the local community. On the other hand, pair and group activities guide to interaction and introduce the importance of such interaction in society. The exercises on textbooks support the levels of adoption, cognition and functionality emphasizing the reinforcement of thought constructs. The data do not directly answer planning, thought and execution in the learning process of an individual pupil albeit the textbook exercises do present the need for participation and functionality. The typical functional nature of social studies is reinforced with cognitive and functional exercises of different cognitive levels that are especially practiced as pair and group exercises.