Social Science Education Consortium

The Social Science Education Consortium, founded in 1963, is a not-for-profit educational corporation dedicated to strengthening the social science content in social studies education. This mission is accomplished by

• promoting collaboration among social scientists and social studies educators.
• developing and disseminating exemplary social science/social studies curriculum materials and teaching approaches.
• conducting and promoting research and evaluation that show promise of more effective social science teaching and learning.
• representing social science education within the education community and the public at large.

The members of SSEC include leading social scientists and social science/social studies educators from throughout the United States and Canada. In 2003, SSEC signed a cooperative agreement, affiliating with the National Council for the Social Studies. NCSS manages the membership of the SSEC, handles the organization*s finances, sells SSEC publications, and collaborates with SSEC on projects.

What does the SSEC do?

Over the years, the SSEC has been known for quality research and development in social science education. Current projects include:

• developing a series of economics investigations with funding from the National Science Foundation.
• generating a series of high school thematic U.S. history modules in collaboration with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
• evaluating two Teaching American History grant projects in two large school districts.

How can you participate in SSEC?

• Join SSEC through the National Council for the Social Studies. Visit http://www.socialstudies.org/membership Be sure to check the SSEC box under Join an NCSS Associated Group.
• Attend the SSEC Vital Issues session at the annual meeting of the National Council for the Social Studies. Each year the SSEC sponsors a session that addresses a critical civic issue from a social science perspective. The 2004 session examined Brown v. Board of Education. The 2005 session focuses on social science education and student engagement.
• Participate in the SSEC annual meeting. Annual meetings, which are held every summer, bring together the membership and other interested educators to explore the latest research and best practices in social science education. Recent meetings have been held at the University of Georgia and at Oxford University, Cambridge, England. The 2006 meeting will be held in Prague, Czech Republic, with the theme “Best Practices in Democracy Building.”
• Bring your grant project ideas to SSEC. If you have a good idea for a social science/social studies funded project, please bring them to our attention. The SSEC can become a host for good projects that can improve our profession.