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Contemporary World

contemp_worldThis new section of the LEARN Social Sciences Centre is being developed to support teachers implementing the new Secondary 5 Contemporary World program, which aims to:
  • help students grasp the complexity of the world today
    and be open to the diversity of the societies that make it up
  • help students develop their critical faculties by studying problems and issues
    of the contemporary world
  • prepare students to participate as responsible citizens in social debate.

Program Information:

The French approved version of Monde contemporain is available here,
And new as of Nov. 2009, the approved English translation of Contemporary World is here.  

Text book information!
Should anyone experience difficulty placing orders for the new ENGLISH Sec.5 Contemporary World textbook Immediate from editions Grand Duc, please be advised:   To order the collection in English, there is no specific form.  Schools can call directly at 1 800 567-3671 and make their order.  The following are the product codes and prices of components:
    Student book: $ 69.95, product code 3900
    Teacher's Toolkit: $ 549.95, product code 3901
You will receive “extracts”, and then the entire book once all “extracts” are completed. The first “extract” covers 3 out of the 5 compulsory themes. Order the “Toolkit” at the same time for valuable learning situations & other resources that go hand in hand.
 
 

Learning Approaches:

http://www.learnquebec.ca/en/content/curriculum/social_sciences/sec_contworld/les_oil/beyondbarrelannounce.jpg LES on Tensions and Conflict:
Behind and Beyond the Oil Barrel

Gomez (EMSB) and Foltin (Littoral), with a little help from a few friends, have produced one of the year's first complete LESs for the new Contemporary World program.  Their Learning and Evaluation Situation prototype is on the theme Tension and Conflict, using focussing on present-day issues surrounding oil production and related foreign interventions.  The package, two booklets available in PDF form, includes a teachers guide and accompanying student workbook, texts, websites, images, graphic organizers, and even evaluation tools to get you started.

The LES is designed to promote the development of the two competencies of the new program:

INTERPRETS A WORLD PROBLEM
Through research, the student is able to interpret the contemporary world problem "The present day oil issue and foreign intervention" and understand that the problem is not isolated but, rather, integrated into the complexity of the modern world.

TAKES A POSITION ON A WORLD ISSUE
The student will be capable of taking a position on the contemporary world issue "The pre- sent day oil issue and foreign intervention."  His/her position will be grounded on pertinent information,  enabling him/her to meaningfully participate in a social debate and, thus, to become a responsible citizen.

NOTE:  The two PDFs below are very large in file size!
It is recommended that you right-click to "download" the files instead of viewing them here.
Or click here to download both as a zip file!

Student Logbook (PDF 17 megabytes)

Teacher's Guide (PDF 40 megabytes)

If you just want to view them to get an idea of what these LESs contain,  visual previews are  available in the form of browsable image galleries. Navigate with your mouse and the arrow keys on the keyboard.  Right click to go fullscreen!  (Teachers guide and Student logbook)


  

LESs under development

Several English LESs are in progress and are available in full or in part via the Social Sciences PLC, or by contacting me (PR) directly using the usual feedback form.

Theme “Tension and Conflict”:
Rwandan Genocide and issue of humanitarian intervention. 
Examination of history through media, using interviews and video testimonials of survivors, and through use of the graphic novel Smile Through the Tears.
(I am looking for teachers willing to test this LES and send feedback!)

Theme "Wealth":
Disparity around world.  Balancing social justice and economic development. 
Looking at products we use in everyday life, media representations, real responses from youth in country that produced the product.  (Using Taking it Global and Epearl software.  Teachers interested in experimenting with these strategies are needed.)

Theme "Power":
Sovereignty of states and economic or political associations.  Focus on European Union, history and issues in general, then interpretation specifically around the entry of Turkey in the union.   (Close to finished.  Again looking for teachers to try out these strategies.)

  
  

Learning Approaches
in the French sector (en Français)
The French sector RECITUS is worth visiting for current information as to what is available online in the French sector.  Presently at the Lignedutemps  site you will find at timeline developed on the theme of the Rwandan Genocide, as well a scenario entitled Tensions et conflits : la guerre au terrorisme.

Similarly, an advanced search of the Carrefour éducation site turns up a number of pedagogical activity suggestions.  As a preview of what you might find, here is what turned up for this program as of September 2009.


Resources, Tools, Sites:

We will shortly be gathering together resources according the themes, concepts and program content in the new Contemporary World program.  For the time being, consider browsing the resources embedded in the above Learning Situations.

Community:

After one of the training sessions last year, a few teachers set up an unofficial and grass-roots community website in the form of a NING.  You can access and even join that group here at http://contemporaryworld.ning.com/ 

LEARN is now starting up a teachers Social Sciences PLC, (professional learning community) which hopes to include and expand upon the members in the above group.  More information can be found in our Social Sciences Communities section.