Democracy related units in Social Studies Curriculums Based on Self-regulation Strategies: A Comparison of Turkey and Germany

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the units related to democracy concept of Social Studies Curriculums applied in Federal Republic of Germany and Republic of Turkey. The goals of the study indicated in Democracy related unit in Social Studies Curriculum in Turkey is examined comparatively with North Rhine-Westphalia State of Germany based on the learning strategies depending on Zimmerman (1998) and Pintrich (2000)’s learning model built on self-regulation. Firstly, literature review of the descriptive research method was used and then, documents were categorized, classified and sorted out using document analysis technique. The derived data of the both countries were compared by the appropriateness to self-regulation strategies. As a result of the study, the democracy related units applied by the curriculums of both countries are found appropriate to students’ gaining self-regulation strategies and also at the end of the study; some suggestions are stated to be able to use the educational environment more effectively in terms of self-regulation strategies.