Social Science Pedagogy
Social Sciences Seminar
Our academic focus is on the social sciences, and we cover the fields of sociology and political science, with overlaps into the field of education. Our central focus is political education in and outside of schools. In our work, we address fundamental questions, such as the roles, forms, and functions of political education in various social contexts. We regularly present our research approaches and findings to the public to foster discussion. We see ourselves as actors who actively help shape political education and the understanding of it; as an active part of the scholarly, practice-oriented, and political-social discourse on political education.
Research Profile
In terms of its themes, content, and professional theory, this research area is situated at the intersection of school-based and out-of-school political education (with particular overlap here with political youth education and youth work).
This is evident, for example, in our research projects, publications, and courses. In our research, we analyze concepts of political education as well as the history of the profession. We do not view either of these as static entities, but rather as contested and historically shaped. Furthermore, these concepts are closely linked to related educational approaches, such as democracy education, education for sustainable development, global learning, and so on. Defining these relationships is a central part of our work.
The aim of our work is a critical reconstruction of and engagement with these concepts (as defined by education policy). Our research aims to further develop these concepts in the spirit of critical political education. These concepts are translated into practice through, among other things, the development of instructional materials.
In terms of its substantive focus, the research area is grounded in sociology and critical political education. The integrative understanding of the social sciences expressed through this approach is a distinctive feature of teacher education in Siegen. Our research and courses reflect this understanding, as does our focus on issues critical of power and discrimination, or similar topics.
Research Focus Areas
- Concepts and Approaches in the Pedagogy of the Social Sciences
- Collaborations between political education in schools and youth work
- Democracy Education and Civic Education
- Education for Sustainable Development and Political Education
- History of Political Education from a Genealogical Perspective
- Theories of Democracy, Social Theories, Educational Theories, Analyses of the Contemporary World, and Their Relationship to Political Education
- Popular Phenomena as Topics for Instruction
- Reconstructing Students’ and Teachers’ Perceptions in the Context of Political Education
- Textbook Research
- Qualitative Methods and Political Education
Latest Publications
Alles dasselbe, oder doch nicht?
Alles dasselbe, oder doch nicht?
Außerschulische politische Jugendbildung: Aktuelle Herausforderungen, Steuerungs- und Einflussnahmeversuche
Außerschulische politische Jugendbildung: Aktuelle Herausforderungen, Steuerungs- und Einflussnahmeversuche
Demokratiebildung und politische Bildung
Demokratiebildung und politische Bildung
Interaktionen mit Schulkindern im Kontext von Nachhaltigkeit. Eine praxeologische Untersuchung zu Subjektivierungsprozessen
Interaktionen mit Schulkindern im Kontext von Nachhaltigkeit. Eine praxeologische Untersuchung zu Subjektivierungsprozessen
Der Mythos 'Neutralität' in Schule, politischer Bildung und Lehrer*innenhandeln
Der Mythos 'Neutralität' in Schule, politischer Bildung und Lehrer*innenhandeln
Politische Bildung in Handlungsfeldern der Jugendarbeit
Politische Bildung in Handlungsfeldern der Jugendarbeit