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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 Help
 4teachers.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%20instru
ction.ppt.