An Integrated Curriculum

Andy Khounmeuang, Meghan Thomas, Shamar Lamb,

& Walaa Sarsour

ELP 344-602
Dr. Peter Hessling
March 27, 2018
What is Integrated Curriculum?

The unification of subjects into experiences and the organization of education in a way that cuts across
subject-matter lines, bringing together various aspects of the curriculum into meaningful association

❏ Relevant
❏ Meaningful
❏ Interactive
❏ National and State Standard-based
 Why an Integrated Curriculum?
It is important for students to break the barriers that tend to separate disciplines

“If we want to help raise productive and creative

critical thinkers, then we must show them how
disciplines are fluid”

~Christa Lee
What Do Students Need To Be Successful?
 Teacher self-efficacy

Curriculum Student motivation

Connection-making
Integration & Math
Teacher and student
satisfaction

Standardized test
achievement

Comprehension
Research: How Does Mathematics Fit In?
❖ “English, mathematics, science, social studies, arts, world language, physical
education, and career technical teachers can all collaborate to plan and present
related lessons that center around a central, career– themed issue or problem”
(Hagan, Ho, & Hudis, 2010, p.2)
Effectiveness of Integrated Curriculum

“When students become interested in a topic

that is taught in more than one subject, they
are more likely to be motivated to pay
attention in these various classes and have a
desire to learn.” - Michelle Lee
Implementing Integrated Curriculum Across Subjects
Project Based Learning (PBL) and Integrated Curriculum

“It helps show the students ‘why’ they

need the topics outside the classroom,
so they feel more connected.” - Ms.
Jessica Miller
Timeline
How YOU will be affected
Possible criticisms of an integrated curriculum

● “I find it difficult to connect lessons that flow from one topic to the next; students could
also not have much of a well-developed background enough to understand the connection”
-Kim Clay, High School AP Environmental/Earth Science teacher and previous Middle
School Science teacher
● Many of our teachers are only trained to teach their subject with little to no knowledge on
different topics but their own
● Parents worry that it will create a sense of confusion with students learning about
different subjects also
Explaining/Addressing the curriculum
● Although the curriculum involves more work on the teacher, it also provides a
brand new educational experience for both the teachers and the students
● Relating to the issue of bridging connections to different topics, this falls on the
teacher and careful planning
● While very few administrators and parents worry about the effectiveness of this
curriculum, it should be taken into consideration that this has multiple benefits
such as create students that are able to collaborate efficiently as well as
reaching the highest level of Bloom’s taxonomy (Create)
Measure Effectiveness
“They understood what was going to be on the examination and were confident that

we had covered the material during the year. Their confidence and understanding

showed in higher test scores” (Vogler)

Gaining Funding
● Through School Board
● Professional Development Grants
● Federal Funding
Gaining Buy-In
● Concept Mapping
● Explanation of concept overlap
● Integrating other subjects into
your own
Why We Should Implement Curriculum
Integration
● Decision making skills
● Problem solving skills
● Group Learning
● Increased Concept Understanding
 References
Curriculum Integration: Helping Career and Technical ... (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2018, from

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0.1080%2f0161956X.2017.1302213&p=DevEx,5065.1

Designing Multidisciplinary Integrated Curriculum Units. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2018, from

http://www.bing.com/cr?IG=D0496FE5D45C4908AFCB89F00123B30A&CID=208B9A94585C6D4C1800910259F36C17&rd=1

&h=jSlULbEmIebCK8BlY7XjP8VGvmJgG8b1mTB2HpOACtI&v=1&r=http%3a%2f%2fconnectedcalifornia.org%2fdownloads%2f

LL_Designing_Curriculum_Units_2010_v5_web.pdf&p=DevEx,5068.1

Fan, S., & Yu, K. (2015). How an integrative STEM curriculum can benefit students in engineering design practices. International

Journal of Technology and Design Education,27(1), 107-129. doi:10.1007/s10798-015-9328-x

MISSION AND REQUIREMENTS. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2018, from http://www.ncpublicschools.org/organization/mission/

Reilly, E. M. (2007, April 30). Mathematics, Art, Research, Collaboration, and Storytelling: The High M.A.R.C.S. Project. Retrieved February 14, 2018, from

https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ765742