The Value of Integration Shawn Martin & Bill Klemm PEER Program Texas A&M University
“Only in education, never in the life of the farmer, sailor, merchant, physician, or laboratory experiment, does knowledge mean primarily a store of information aloof from doing. ” -John Dewey
Integration is all around us; in society and in nature. n Most contemporary jobs require the integration of a range of skills. n In today’s workforce, we are given a problem and asked to solve it, often with guidance but infrequently with direct instruction. n
The “test” is whether or not the problem gets solved. n In traditional schools students are given a set of facts and asked to memorize them, but then are not given the opportunity to apply them in a way that is applicable to life outside of the school. n
n Teachers often think of integrated curriculum as two teachers combining their classes and teaching their subject-specific material in the same room at the same time.
So What is Integration?
According to Webster’s dictionary, integration is: the combining and coordinating of separate parts or elements into a unified whole.
n A basic educational definition is that an integrated curriculum is one in which children broadly explore knowledge in various subjects.
n And, in general, most definitions of integrated curriculum include: § A combination of subjects § An emphasis on projects § Sources that go beyond textbooks § Relationships among concepts § Thematic units as organizing principals § Flexible schedules § Flexible student groupings
Ten Reasons to Teach an Integrated Curriculum
10. Unless you have 50 hours a day to teach, you’ll never get it all in. 11. 9. An integrated curriculum allows science and social studies to frame your reading, writing and math.
8. The BRAIN thrives on connections. 7. Life is not divided into neat little blocks of time called science, math, reading, writing, social studies, and recess. http: //thankyoubrain. com
6. Problem-solving skills soar when all of our knowledge and higher-level thinking from all curriculum areas are tapped. 5. Real Literature in real books provides an authentic diving board into learning all subjects.
4. School has it backwards! In real life you are tested with a problem and then must scramble for answers, but in traditional school you are given the answers and asked to… regurgitate them. 3. Group interactions and teambuilding inherent in an integrated curriculum depend on using a variety of strengths and skills to create bridges to understanding.
2. Your standardized test scores will hit the top! By inspiring students to THINK, to love learning, and to put their learning to work in authentic ways, your kids will be equipped for whatever curves they might be thrown. . . on standardized tests and in life!
1. STUDENTS LOVE AN INTEGRATED CURRICULUM AND THRIVE ON ITS CHALLENGES! -The Little Red School House, 2002
Why should you try integrated teaching?
n To Promote Collaboration:
A teacher may be good on her own, but it isn't until she is connected to her students, their families, the teachers and the school, that she truly succeeds.
n To Reflect the Real World:
Engaging students in real-world problem solving as they acquire the skills and knowledge needed for success in work and life is as important for middle school students as it is for those in high school.
n To Try an Exciting Approach:
“The integrated curriculum is a great gift to experienced teachers. It’s like getting a new pair of lenses that make teaching a lot more exciting and helps us look forward into the next century. It is helping students take control of their own learning. ” -M. Markus
n To Connect School Subjects: Social Studies Science Mathematics English Language Arts
“I’m learning more in this course, and I’m doing better than I used to do when social studies and English were taught separately. ” Student, quoted in Oster, L.
How Texas A&M PEER Program Integrates Environmental Health English Language Arts Science Environmental Health Science Social Studies Mathematics
n To Motivate Self:
It’s not just the children who benefit. All teachers can be fully involved in creating the curriculum and the lack of fixed lesson times can give their creativity a far freer rein.
n To Involve the Community:
“By nature schools are a part and reflection of the communities in which they exist. ” -Glencoe
n To Have Fun:
“When Marilyn Phipps took over as head at Damson Wood School five years ago, she was determined to get away from the ‘If it’s Wednesday, it must be science’ approach to teaching. ‘The day was so fragmented, ’ she says, ‘and all of the staff wanted that to change too. We wanted to bring fun back into teaching. ”
Challenges of Integrated Curriculum Change is difficult for everyone involved…students, parents, and teachers. Yet, even as the teachers recognize the challenges, their focus is on the benefits!
Students “The students have had a difficult time transitioning to the new curriculum since they were used to memorizing simple procedures, doing multiple practice problems, and then taking tests and quizzes on a small selection of topics. ”
Parents “This curriculum doesn’t look like ‘real’ math to parents. It is difficult for many parents to help their children because they can’t find problems in the book that show them how to do the problems we assign. ”
Teachers “The real challenge to teaching this way is that you must be very familiar with the material and willing to risk having students take you in a direction other than the one you had planned for the lesson. ”
Greatest Challenges to Integration Using PEER Curriculum Perceived difficulty of using integrative modules based on comments of 125 middle school teachers: ■ Time for team planning and prep time 26% ■ Teaming, scheduling, cooperation, buy-in 17% ■ Teacher Diversity (style, technology, change) 15% ■ Curriculum (full, ISD restraints, alignment) 15% ■ Access to technology (computers) 9% ■ Time-lines for teaching different subjects 9%
How We Address The Challenges Teacher preparation and team planning time ■ Present modules with ready-to-use specific implementation plans with lesson plans, worksheets and activities. Technology ■ Make materials printable and down-loadable from the Web ■ Train teachers how to embrace this technology ■ Provide online tutorials on implementation
Teacher diversity and ‘buy-in’ ■ Encourage technology use and training for technology ■ Recruit teachers with diverse interests/ teaching styles ■ Target pre-service teachers Constraints of full curriculum and ISD requirements ■ Identify the standards being taught and how the curriculum improves interest and possibly test scores. Increasing awareness and use of the curriculum ■ Use mailings, faxes, website advertisement, targeting new and pre-service teachers ■ e-Mentoring of novice teachers
Example Integration Using PEER Material Peru Mini-modules, 6 th Grade Number of Class Periods Subjects 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Social Studies Geography Mapping SS 1, 2 Cont. Peru History SS 3, 4 Cont. Government Economy Science Carbon dating Sci. 1 Solving the mystery Sci. 2, 3 Vectors Sci. 3 Disease Sci. 4 Finish all Math Half Life Math 6 Measurement Math 4 Geometry Math 3 Cont. Probability Math 5 Quant. Reasoning Math 1, 2 8 People Cont. English Read Story Eng. 1 Communicati on Eng. 2 Word Origin Vocab. Eng. 3, 4 Verbs Art Show pictures of Peruvian Art Start Pottery Work on Pottery Cont. Start painting pottery Paint Finished products on display Music Talk about and listen to Peruvian Music Compose in groups, a song about Peru Cont. Practice songs Perform songs for classmates, or parents.
So how do you integrate?
Research Take the time to research current resources and the best practices. Learn from others what works and doesn’t work.
Develop Sit down with others in your school and develop a plan of attack.
Implement Once you have a plan, implement it into one group or grade level and monitor it, with continual assessment of the students and the plan.
Remember Don’t try to include people who have no interest in integrating.
Adopt a program school-wide and continue to monitor it.
Tips for Implementing Start small: you don’t have to start school wide. n Communicate: with others in your group, school, district. n Time: make sure you have plenty of planning time. n
Questions?
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