Integrated Instruction

Integrated

Interdisciplinary

Thematic

Synergistic

Problem-based

Project-based

Related Terms

An integrated study

is one in which

children broadly

explore knowledge

in various subjects

related to certain

aspects of their

environment.

(Humphreys, 1981)

Integrated Curriculum – What Degree?

Single activity

Lesson

Unit

Multi-unit project

Spiral curriculum*

(Bruner, 1960)

Question When you encounter a

problem, do you think, “Oh. This is a science problem; I will draw from my science knowledge bank”?

…or do you think, “This problem needs solving. What do I know that can help me here.

The Big Problem We tend to keep thinks “stored” in the brain in the

context in which they were learned (used).

It is very difficult to achieve transfer.

The value of school knowledge is marginalized unless students can actually apply that knowledge in new contexts to solve authentic problems.

•Core skills and processes. These include

basic skills, such as reading and mathematics,

as well as social skills and problem solving.

•Curriculum strands and themes. These are

the organizing principles around which the

curriculum is built. They are broad and

integrate

content from multiple areas.

Essential Components

(Shoemaker, 1991)

Education that is

organized in such a way

that it cuts across

subject-matter lines,

bringing together

various aspects of the

curriculum into

meaningful association

to focus upon broad

areas of study.

(

• A combination of subjects

• An emphasis on projects

• Sources that go beyond textbooks

• Relationships among concepts

• Thematic units as organizing principles

• Flexible schedules

• Flexible student groupings

Key Consensus

Components

Advantages and Disadvantages Authentic

Engaging

Natural

Challenging

Teaches HOTS

Supports Self-Directed Learning

Provides consistency of expectations across disciplines

FUN!

Takes more planning time

Requires cooperation and teaming

Sometimes the theme/project becomes the focus rather than the objectives

Sometimes content/skills are below benchmark levels

•Major themes.

Each curriculum

strand is further

divided into major

themes, e.g.,

Environments or

Diversity.

•Questions.

Questions are used to

further define major

themes and focus

activities.

Unit development

1. Conduct action research to learn about

current resources and best practices.

2. Develop a proposal for integration.

3. Implement and monitor the pilot program,

with continual assessment of students

and the program.

4. Adopt a program and continue to assess.

4 Steps to Success

(Jacobs, 1989)

1. Integrated curriculum helps students apply

skills.

2. An integrated knowledge base leads to faster

retrieval of information.

3. Multiple perspectives lead to a more integrated

knowledge base.

4. Integrated curriculum encourages depth and

breadth in learning.

5. Integrated curriculum promotes positive

attitudes in students.

6. Integrated curriculum provides for more quality

time for curriculum exploration.

(Lipson, 1993)

•Curricular scope and sequence

•How evaluation will occur

•Parent and community support

•Themes that promote the transfer

of learning and connections

•Team planning time that is used to

exchange information about

content, students, special areas of

teacher expertise, and teaching

methods.

Be Sure You Consider…

If more than one teacher is

involved, you must have

effective teaming.

Technology Help4teachers.org

Trackstar

Virtual Architecture

Webquests

Virtual Field Trips

References ALTEC (n.d.) Professional development resources. Available from the Internet

at http://4teachers.org/profdev/ ALTEC (n.d.) TrackStar. Available from the Internet at

http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/ Bruner, J. S. (1960) The process of education. Cambridge, MA: Harvard

University Press. Concept to Classroom (2004).Workshop: Interdisciplinary learning in your

classroom. Retrieved on January 10, 2010 from http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/interdisciplinary/index.html

Connect for Teachers (2010). Integrated curriculum guide. Retrieved on January 10, 2010, from http://www.archeworks.org/projects/tcsp/ic_guide.html

Dodge, B. (2007). Webquests.Org. Availabe from the Internet at http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/

Jacobs, H.H. (1989). Interdisciplinary curriculum: Design and implementation. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Alexandria, Va.

George Lucas Education Foundation (2010). Eutopia: Project-based learning. Available from the Internet at http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning

Harris, J. (2005). Virtual architecture. Available from the Internet at http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/

Humphreys, A.; Post, T.; & Ellis, A.(1981). Interdisciplinary methods: A thematic approach. Santa Monica, CA: Goodyear Publishing Company.

Lake, K. (n.d.) Integrated curriculum. Retrieved on January 10, 2010, from http://www.smallschoolsproject.org/profdev/gates2/planning.pdf

Lipson, M.Y., Valencia, S.W., Wixson, K.K., & Peters, C.W.(1993). Integration and thematic teaching: Integration to improve teaching and learning. Language Arts, 70, 252-263.

Shoemaker, B.J.E. (1991). Education 2000 integrated curriculum. Phi Delta Kappan, 72, 793-797.

Shoemaker, B.J.E. (1993). Two sides of the same coin. Educational Leadership, 50(8), 55-57.

University of Delaware. (2008). Problem-based learning. Available from the Internet at http://www.udel.edu/pbl/

Utah Education Network (n.d.) Virtual field trips. Available from the Internet at http://www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/

Windslow University (n.d.). Integrated curriculum. Retrieved on January 10, 2010, from http://coe.winthrop.edu/blackburnb/EDCI%20630/interdisciplinary%20instruction.ppt.