The purpose of this study is to understand the block scheduling Social Studies classes. For this purpose, micro-ethnographic research such as classroom observations, videotaping, interviews with teachers and students was performed in the Social Studie...
The purpose of this study is to understand the block scheduling Social Studies classes. For this purpose, micro-ethnographic research such as classroom observations, videotaping, interviews with teachers and students was performed in the Social Studies classes of first-grade in a middle school. The collected data were analyzed by three concepts; ``Lesson organization``, ``Social participation mode``, and ``Transformation of content structure.`` The results are summarized as follows: first, the block time classes focused on delivering knowledge and memorizing unlike its original intention because of educational circumstances. And multimedia and the Internet materials were functioning as means for class efficiency. Second, teachers run two independent but same classes repeatedly in one block scheduling class. Third, behaviors of teachers reflected the perception of the changes in the classroom environment and the educational system; that supports Optimization in Teaching of Everyday Lessons. Based on these results, this study implies the need for thick description about new educational policies and world of the real classes. And in order to bridge the gap between goals of a new instructional policy and teachers` behaviors, we should deeply consider the teachers` optimization behaviors in teaching of everyday lessons. Finally, the communications between teachers should be facilitated for teachers to accept new attempts and changes in education.