URCC-5110: Citizenship Education and Community Engagement

Introduction to Course:

"Education modifies the behaviour of person, thus education can perform this duty well if the system of education runs effectively. For making the education system successful teachers play an important role for implementing the different components of education. It has become the dire need of the society to make teachers well conversant about the requirements of the society.

It is clear that teacher makes a tremendous contribution to our society. A teacher is the one who shapes the personality and entire life of children. It is one of the noble professions as it contributes in building the future of the country and overall society. Teachers play a significant and valuable role as they influence the lives of children who are the future. Students get influenced by the teacher’s character, his/her affection and commitment, his/her competence and his/her morals and ethics. So it is important that only the best and the intelligent human beings are allowed to become teachers so that a safe future is ensured. The role of a teacher in education system is pivotal. He is the implementer of society and the yardstick that decides the quality of education system. Successful teachers enjoy working with children, managing and motivating people, working well with the community.

The course emphasizes how to experience the social contact with the community, and how to mobilize community for the development of the school. The course includes wider issues including culture, gender, special needs, equity and equality and collaborative working condition within the school and community. This course will provide an orientation for the process of socialization and social development. It also emphasize on social factors which may affect education. This course has not only a theoretical perspective but some practical aspects as well, like community work, improving social interaction activities, and promotion of healthy environment.

This course covers the nature, characteristics, and functions of society and culture and cultural diversity. It highlights the nature, role and dynamics of group. It describes the concept, aims, factors and responsible agencies of socialization. It focuses on social institutions. Unit-5 addresses the concept, methods and role of school and teacher in social control. It highlights the relationship of school, society and teacher. It covers the effective role of teacher. It highlights the technological change and its impact on society. And it describes collaboration between school and community while covering the community development theory, objectives for collaboration, collaboration plans, involvement of parents and effective communication mechanism."

Source: Sultana, 2016, p.v-vi).

Course Objectives:

The overall objectives of this course are to:

• Teach students the importance and role of active citizenship in promoting a productive, harmonious and developed society/ world
• Educate students about the importance of concepts, skills and philosophy of community linkages in developing a sustainable society
• Inculcate the importance of community involvement for ensuring an improved, tolerant and generative society/ world
• Provide an opportunity to the students to develop their relationship with the community 

Learning Outcomes:

The primary outcome is inclusive development through active citizenship locally and globally. Moreover, the following are the detailed outcomes of the course based on the three domains of Bloom's Taxonomy i.e Affective, Psychomotor and Cognitive. The students will be able to: 

• Understand the overall organization of the society
• Recognize and exercise their rights, responsibilities and the significance of active citizenship in positive societal development
• Identify and critically evaluate social issues and implement practicable community based solutions
• Understand the concept of human rights and its significance
• Appreciate diverse viewpoints and inter-cultural harmony 

Course Outline:

Introduction to Citizenship Education and Community Engagement

• Orientation (Course outline, learning outcomes etc.)
• Introduction to Active Citizenship: Overview of the Ideas, Concepts, Philosophy and Skills '
• Approaches and Methodology for Active Citizenship 

Identity, Culture, and Social Harmony

• Concept and Development of Identity
• Components of Culture and Social Harmony
• Cultural & Religious Diversity (Understanding and affirmation of similarities & differences)
• Social Structure and Social Hierarchy (stake holders, decision makers, implementers and others)

Multi-cultural society and inter-cultural dialogue

• Inter-cultural dialogue (bridging the differences, promoting harmony)
• Significance of diversity and its impact
• Importance and domains of Inter-cultural dialogue 
• Role of civil society in promoting Inter-cultural harmony 

Active Citizen: Locally Active, Globally Connected

• Importance of active citizenship at national and global level
• Understanding community
• Identification of resources (human, natural and others)
• Utilization of resources for development (community participation)
• Strategic planning, for development (community linkages and mobilization)

Human rights, constitutionalism and citizens' responsibilities

• Introduction to Human Rights
• Universalism vs relativism
• Human rights in constitution of Pakistan
• Public duties and responsibilities
• Constitutionalism and democratic process
• Current Human Rights issues in Pakistan

Social issues in Pakistan

• Introduction to the concept of social problem
• Causes and solutions: critical thinking and evaluation
• Social issues in Pakistan (poverty, equal and equitable access of resdurces, unemployment, agricultural problems, terrorism & militancy, governance issues, corruption, ethnic & sectarian issues, illiteracy, dowry, child labour, gender discrimination, substance abuse and others)

Social Action Project

• Introduction and planning of social action project
• Identification of problein (area mapping)
• Ethical considerations related to project
• Assessment of existing resources (material and non-material)
• Community-based project planning and action groups building
• Implementation (role division among action groups)
• Monitoring & evaluation (impact assessment / value enhancement)

Practicum (list and number of practical/activities/projects/field visits etc): one field social action project

Teaching Methods (propose more than one method according to the nature and scope of the course e.g.): 

• Lecturing
• Assignments
• Guest Speaker
• Field Visits
• Report Writing 

Description of System of Evaluation (Formative/Summative) (Exams, assignments etc.)

In order to pass the course and gain a certificate students should therefore:

• Individually complete a self-assessment exercise after the gaup work, showing the reflective and personal development aspects of the programme and their appreciation of the course learning;
• Participate in the design and planning of a social action project and provide evidence of this in the form of a group presentation, to a panel of peers, tutors and a community representative for feedback before implementing the project in the community.
• Compile a group report on the project process to a standard format at the end of the project commenting on: project outcomes, individual contributions and group learning. 

The assessment criteria to evaluate your overall performance in the relevant course would be as under:

*subject to the directions of university

Detailed lesson plans for each lecture:

Following links provide detailed lesson plans in accordance with the guidelines of HEC:

1. https://hec.gov.pk/english/services/universities/RevisedCurricula/Documents/2011-2012/Education/SchoolCommTeacher_Sept13.pdf

2. https://hec.gov.pk/english/services/universities/RevisedCurricula/Documents/2011-2012/Education/TeachingSocStudies_Sept13.pdf

Timetable of Class Meetings:

Week-wise Distribution and Key Dates of Class Meeting

Text and Reference Books:

Core Readings:

• Anne Karin Larsen, Participation in Community Work: International Perspectives (Vishanthie Sewpaul, Grete Oline Hole, 2013)
• Alan Twelvetrees, Community Work (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008) 
• British Council, Active Citizen's Social Action Projects Guide (Scotland: British Council, 2017) 
• Cathryn Berger Kaye, The Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, & Social Action (Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing Inc., 2004)