Education - Interdisciplinary Learning
Putting theory into practice
To study any unit within the social studies or science fields, without considering the related literature/media and applications of mathematics greatly shortchanges the study for students.
from Erickson, H. Lynn. Concept-based curriculum and instruction: Teaching beyond the facts. p 77.
The video below summarizes some of Erickson's work about 'topics versus concepts.'
Concepts and concept development
Getting the Big Idea: Concept-based Teaching and Learning - a succinct four page summary of concept-based planning
Concept Development: A Hilda Taba Teaching Strategy - Links to the first two chapters of a book that discusses Hilda Taba's model and shows a lesson that moves students from facts to generalizations, as the first phase of concept development. The book from which this is taken: Concept Development by Shelagh Gallagher is on order for the Doucette Library.
Lesson examples
Patterns of Change - A unit developed by the Centre for Gifted Education of the College and William and Mary. All of their language arts and social students units provide concrete examples of the use of big concepts.The Patterns of Change unit has students think about cyclical patterns of change in the world, and its appendix has a helpful addition called "The Concept of Change: Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Meaning" (p 319-330).
Significant themes (a quote from: Teaching and Learning Elementary Social Studies by A. K. Ellis, 2010, pp.263-270)
The search for significant common themes is at the heart of integrated studies. Once established, themes become the rallying point of the curriculum, the place to go when you want to be sure that the pursuit is meaningful and excellent. Themes provide a means for the various contributing disciplines to be different, showcasing their unique properties yet at the same time carrying out a similar conceptual purpose...
Each theme, in order to qualify, must meet several important tests:
1. Is the theme truly conceptual--that is, is it representative of ideas that transcend place and time?
2. Does the theme lend itself to all three knowledge modes-- that is, knowledge received, knowledge discovered, and knowledge constructed?
3. Is the theme fundamentally worth pursuing in each of the separate content areas--that is, social studies, science, arts, humanities, mathematics?
4. Does the theme have the potential to enrich the curriculum and therefore the lives of students and teachers?
...By applying this fourfold test, we can reduce the list to manageable, meaningful proportions...The following themes, however, will do for purposes of illustration. Cause and Effect / Commonality and Diversity / Systems and Patterns / Cycles and Change / Scale and Symmetry / Interaction and Relationships / Time and Space / Equilibrium and Disequilibrium
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What makes a question essential?An online link to chapter 1 of Grant Wiggins & Jay McTighe's book "Essential Questions: Opening the Doors to Student Understanding". The full book is available in the Doucette (Call number 371.39 MCE 2013)
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Essential Questions (DVD)(call number 371.39 MCE 2014 DVD) - Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins explain essential questions, and show them in action in classrooms at different levels in this 42 minutes DVD.
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Essential QuestionsThe attributes of essential questions described by the founders of the Galileo Educational Network.
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On Genuine vs. Bogus inquiry - Using EQs (Essential Questions) ProperlyGrant Wiggins reflects on the important distinction.
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A List of Over 100 Awesome Essential Questions Examples by Subjectby Lee Watanabe-Crockett | Nov 16, 2017
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The Understanding by Design Guide to Advanced Concepts in Creating and Reviewing Units by Grant Wiggins; Jay McTighe
ISBN: 9781416614098Publication Date: 2012 -
What's the Big Idea? by Jim Burke
Call Number: 428.00712 BUW 2010ISBN: 9780325021577Although Jim Burke's book focuses specifically on ELA, it provides good examples of using essential questions
Pinterest - Doucette Library - POWERFUL QUESTIONS
Also, check out our Lesson Planning Research Guide, for other links to lesson/unit plan examples.
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Interdisciplinary Learning in your Classroom: ImplementationSource: Concept to Classroom (Thirteen Ed Online).
Provides links to lots of online examples, plus the theory. -
How to Teach with an Interdisciplinary Approach: How to Make Your Classroom Interdisciplinaryfrom: Pedagogy in Action: the SERC portal for educators
Effective design and implementation of interdisciplinary classroom explorations, regardless of the level or type of class, entails six key steps. -
Authentic Connections: Interdisciplinary Work in the Artsfrom: The Consortium of National Arts Education Associations, 2002
Lesson examples
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Thoughts and Viruses Interdisciplinary UnitA grade eight interdisciplinary unit developed by teachers at Calgary's Connect Charter School.
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Love and WarThis is a joint project between 10th grade humanities and math/chemistry. This is one of many High Tech High projects, several of which has interdisciplinary components, which you can view at: http://hightechhigh.org/student-work/student-projects
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Assembly Line SimulationsCombines Social Studies and some elements of STEM, as students design a toy and then assemble it.
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Boise High School teachers use Garbology inside–and outside—the classroomSchollwide , an Idaho high school incorporates the book "Garbology" in their lessons. "It's a perfect book for cross-disciplinary learning," says one teacher.
When searching the Library Catalogue, use the keywords or subject headings: interdisciplinary approach, integrated curriculum, thematic approach, active learning, disciplinary literacy, thematic units, project based learning, problem based learning, real-world problems.
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The Astonishing Curriculum: Integrating science and humanities through language by Stephen Tchudi (Editor)
Call Number: 372.6 AS 1993ISBN: 0814102107 -
Becoming Young Thinkers: Deep Project Work in the Classroom by Judy Harris Helm
Call Number: 371.36 HEB 2015ISBN: 9780807755945 -
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Project-Based Learning Across the Disciplines by Acacia M. Warren
ISBN: 9781506333793Publication Date: 2016 -
Thinking Through Project-Based Learning: guiding deeper inquiry by Jane Krauss; Suzie Boss
Call Number: 371.36 KRT 2013ISBN: 9781452202563 -
Interdisciplinary Instruction for All Learners K-8 by Karlyn E. Wood
Call Number: 371.39 WOI 2010ISBN: 9780137137084 -
Cross-Curricular Teaching and Learning in the Secondary School - Humanities by Harris, Harriso & McFahn
Call Number: 373.011 HAC 2012ISBN: 9780415561891Integrates research based pedagogy with practical steps for students and teachers as they consider how cross-curricular approaches can be implemented in secondary Humanities. See also a similar volume for Science. -
A Guide for Developing Interdisciplinary Thematic Units by Richard D. Kellough; Patricia L. Roberts
Call Number: 371.36 ROG 2008ISBN: 0131755013 -
The Leonardo Effect: Motivating Children to Achieve through Interdisciplinary Learning by I. Hickey & D. Robson (Eds)
Call Number: 371.39 LEO 2012ISBN: 9780415604840 -
The Private Eye: Looking/Thinking by Analogy by Kerry RuefCall Number: 502.82 RUP 2003ISBN: 0960543414
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Storytelling Across the Primary Curriculum by Alastair K. Daniel
Call Number: 372.677 DaS 2012ISBN: 9780415598606
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Book LinksThis magazine from the American Library Association is a fantastic resources for articles that list fairly current children's literature around themes.Check the periodical shelves in the Doucette library (all issues can be borrowed)
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Student Engagement and Success Using an Inquiry Approach and Integrated Curriculum in Primary Educationby Alison Board
from: Canadian Children. Fall2013, Vol. 38 Issue 2, p41-44. 4p -
Authentic interdisciplinary instruction: raising the barby Bonnie Mohnsen
from: Strategies: A Journal for Physical and Sport Educators. 24.3 (January-February 2011): p18. -
Challenge Based Learning: The Report from the Implementation ProjectNew Media Consortium, 2011
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Planning, teaching and assessing elementary education interdisciplinary curriculumInternational Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 22(2), 2010.
Recommended supplemental reading for EDUC 502 -
Discovering Sense of Place: Application through EducationPathways: The Ontario Journal of Outdoor Education, v23 n3 p14-18 Spr 2011
- Last Updated: Mar 20, 2018 3:35 PM
- URL: https://library.ucalgary.ca/guides/interdisciplinary_learning
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