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Pre-Service Teachers’ Opinions Regarding Using Films in Social Studies EducationKeywords: social studies , film , pre-service teacher Abstract: Fundamental knowledge, skills, attitudes and values for community life are taught students through various courses in elementary school. Social studies course play an important role in teaching process of mentioned knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to students in primary education level. Various learning resources are used in social studies course for introducing students past, today and future with people, places and cultures. Films are powerful pedagogical tools for social studies teachers. Films play an important role in introducing historical, cultural, geographical, social, politic issues, perspectives and characteristics belong to people, society, or nations. This study was aimed at examining advantages and disadvantages of using film in social studies education from the perspective of social studies pre-service teachers.The purpose of the study is to examine pre-service teachers’ understandings about using films in social studies course. Within the scope of the main purpose of the present study, the following research questions were addressed: What do pre-service teachers think about using film in social studies? What do pre-service teachers think about contributions of films to social studies education? What do pre-service teachers think about problems can be encountered when using film in social studies? What are pre-service teachers’ recommendations about using film in social studies?Qualitative research methods were used in the study. Participants of the study were 3rd and 4th grade pre-service teachers enrolled in social studies teacher training program. Focus group interview was used in the study. First group consisted of 8 pre-service teachers from the 3rd grade, and second group had 6 pre-service teachers from the 4th grade. In the analysis of data, content analysis technique was used.Findings were examined under the four main themes which were classified as “using film in social studies”, “contributions of films to social studies”, “problems can be encountered when using film in social studies”, and “recommendations”. Findings of the study show that according to pre-service teachers films appeal to multiple senses of students, help retention of learning, and facilitate history and geography learning. Moreover, films make learning enjoyable. Pre-service teachers explained contribution of films to social studies education under the sub-themes of contribution regarding knowledge, skills, and values acquirement. They mentioned about historical and geographical issues in terms of knowledge contribution of films. Pre-service teachers em
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