| The purpose of the study was to examine and evaluate the effectiveness of the social studies teaching programs in the Al-Jouf Education College, which had not been done previously. This research focused and answered six research questions concerning teacher perceptions regarding effectiveness, goals and procedures of the programs in Al-Jouf Education College. These questions also concerned curriculum and how student academic level and student age impacted their perceptions of the program. Research questions focused on the management system of the social studies program. This study included teachers who completed student teaching, including approximately 600 teachers who graduated with a major in social studies from 1990 to the present. Only these graduates who teach social studies participated. The 40-item instrument used to gather data included demographics, internship, instructor effectiveness, curriculum, teaching skills, classroom management, and three open ended questions. Conclusions include teachers perceiving that the program prepared them to teach within the principles of Islam, and for teaching in Saudi Arabia schools, met the needs of Saudi society, and learned classroom management techniques, for the most part. Teachers wanted more exposure to non-traditional teaching techniques and to technology and improved connection between the social studies courses and the elementary curriculum. A major implication is that a program supports teaching teachers to teach within Islamic principles, and as meeting the needs of Saudi society. The program of social studies needs to establish a vehicle for networking with graduates. Teachers need to be involved in developing the social studies curriculum of Al-Jouf College courses, social studies courses need to be increased, and the college curriculum needs to be linked to the elementary social studies curriculum. |
