On-demand CPD: Why are concepts so important in Citizenship teaching?

About this session

Citizenship concepts have been instrumental in developing students’ knowledge and critical thinking since the subject’s inception. While no longer explicitly written distinctly within the national curriculum, these concepts remain foundational to teaching citizenship.

This webinar will allow participants to explore what a concept is and help them to understand how important they are when planning a single, or sequence of lessons, delving into the significance of citizenship concepts in lesson planning. Led by Professor Lee Jerome and Zoe Baker, this 90-minute session will explore this theme through practical examples and provide actionable strategies for classroom implementation.

Who is it for?

This webinar is ideal for those new to Citizenship, but also will be helpful to teachers at any stage of their career. Especially those looking to develop their pedagogy to ensure students take a synoptic approach in their writing.

Why register?

By the end of this webinar you will:

• Develop your understanding of the importance of the role Citizenship concepts play in teaching 
• Have a greater understanding of how to plan using Citizenship concepts 
• Gain practical strategies to improve your students synoptic understanding

How do I access the session?

After registering, the video and supporting materials will be available to access in the Booked Events area in your Membership Dashboard

Useful information

This workshop will support the ITTECF in the following ways:

• Discussing and analysing with expert colleagues how to sequence lessons so that pupils secure foundational knowledge before encountering more complex content.
• Discussing and analysing with expert colleagues how to identify possible misconceptions and plan how to prevent these from forming.
• Increasing challenge with practice and retrieval as knowledge becomes more secure (e.g. by removing scaffolding, lengthening space or introducing interacting elements).
• Providing opportunities for all pupils to learn and master essential concepts, knowledge, skills and principles of the subject.
• Being aware of common misconceptions and discussing with expert colleagues how to help pupils master important concepts.
• Discussing and analysing with expert colleagues how to revisit the big ideas of the subject over time and teach key concepts through a range of examples.
• Drawing explicit links between new content and the core concepts and principles in the subject.
• Enabling critical thinking and problem solving by first teaching the necessary foundational content knowledge.

Additional information

This webinar will support the ITTECF frame by supporting standard 2 in the following ways 

• Building on pupils’ prior knowledge, by:
  • Identifying possible misconceptions and planning how to prevent these forming
  • Linking what pupils already know to what is being taught (e.g. explaining how new content builds on what is already known)
  • Sequencing lessons so that pupils secure foundational knowledge before encountering more complex content.
  • Encouraging pupils to share emerging understanding and points of confusion so that misconceptions can be addressed.

Supporting standard 3 by: 

• Securing subject knowledge helps teachers to motivate pupils and teach effectively
• Ensuring pupils master foundational concepts and knowledge before moving on is likely to build pupils’ confidence and help them succeed
• Anticipating common misconceptions within particular subjects is also an important aspect of curricular knowledge; working closely with colleagues to develop an understanding of likely misconceptions is valuable
• Delivering a carefully sequenced and coherent curriculum, by:
  • Identifying essential concepts, knowledge, skills and principles of the subject and providing opportunity for all pupils to learn and master these critical components
  • Ensuring pupils’ thinking is focused on key ideas within the subject.
  • Working with experienced colleagues to accumulate and refine a collection of powerful analogies, illustrations, examples, explanations and demonstrations
  • Using resources and materials aligned with the school curriculum. (e.g. textbooks or shared resources designed by experienced colleagues that carefully sequence content)
  • Being aware of common misconceptions and discussing with experienced colleagues how to help pupils, master important concepts

CPD strand – Introduction to Citizenship

This strand is designed for anybody who is new to the subject, from ITE trainees to experienced teachers who are teaching Citizenship for the first time. These events will allow participants to develop their understanding of the core substantive knowledge of the subject, key concepts and best practice in pedagogy.