S3 BGE Modern Studies
Why do this course?
The course will provide pupils with the opportunity to develop thinking skills, collecting, processing, comparing and interpreting/evaluating information. There will be opportunities to use and develop skills in ICT.
Studying MODERN STUDIES will encourage you to develop important attitudes, including: An open mind; Respect for the values, beliefs and cultures of others; Openness to new thinking and ideas; A sense of responsibility and global citizenship
What will you experience?
A wide range of teaching strategies are used with classes, such as thinking skills, direct teaching, paired and/or group work. Work in class is supported through the use of work guides, ICT and other digital media. Pupils will be involved in setting their own targets and evaluating their own as well as others progress. Pupils are expected to take on an early responsibility for their learning.
What will you learn?
The aim of this course is to provide pupils with a broad experience of social studies, providing coverage of the Level 4 experiences and outcomes. The three units we will study are:
Interdependent world
A look at the inequalities in the world and the reason for it
Measuring development
Diseases – case studies and country specific issues
Foreign aid – types and issues
Role of NGO’s in supporting development
Child Soldiers
Terrorism in Africa
Who’s in charge in Scotland?
Where does the power lie?
Participation
Influence on voting behaviour of media/pressure groups
The USA: Democracy and Gun Control
Media influence on society
Inequalities in society
A study of the ongoing gun control debate in America
Background and statistics linked to the problem
Arguments for and against gun control
Case studies
Key Facts
Everything you need to know before selecting this course
Homework
Homework will be set by the class teacher on a regular basis and may involve practice of skills, preparation for assessments or research assignments.
Assessment
Knowledge and skills will be assessed in different ways, depending on the topic being studied. This will include project work and assessed work/homework. Pupils will undertake peer evaluation of class work and use assessment to set achievable short-term targets.
Progression and Employment
Everything you need to know about future pathways from this course