Impact of backward assessment and guided reflection on social studies education: A four-step teaching cycle

Social studies methods instructors have tried to utilize various pedagogical strategies, including modeling, to demonstrate exemplary social studies teaching to their preservice teachers. Social studies education courses can transform preservice teachers from managing to survive every class to enjoying the interaction with their students and having them engaged in instructional activities. Current trends in preparing preservice teachers to teach social studies include standards-based instruction, performance-based assessment, backward design, guided inquiry in searching for resources, reflective practice, and integration of technology and teaching. For this study, a four-step teaching cycle is developed based on the trends of teaching social studies mentioned above. The study examines if participating preservice teachers report improved social studies teaching and learning after they have followed the four-step teaching cycle.