Interdisciplinary approach to teaching

Describes the interdisciplinary approach to instruction. Includes features of the method, its support from educational theorists, and requirements of teachers who use it.

1. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Dr. Karlyn Wood © Professor Emeritus School of Education State University of New York College at Old Westbury Interdisciplinary Instruction Presentation 1 Theory and Rationale

2. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Four Characteristics of the Interdisciplinary Approach

3. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education History Art Literacy Drama Technology Geography Economics Music Mathematics Science Dance Civics/Citizenship Other Areas Related to the Unit Topic CHARACTERISTICS OF INTERDISCIPLINARY INSTRUCTION 1 – STUDIES ARE TOPIC, THEME, OR PROBLEM-CENTERED. 2 – STUDENT DIVERSITY IS EASILY ACCOMMODATED. 3. TWO OR MORE ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES AND WAYS OF KNOWING ARE USED TO RESEARCH THE TOPIC, THEME, OR PROBLEM. 4 – EQUAL EMPHASIS IS GIVEN TO THE LEARNING PROCESSES AND MASTERY OF CONTENT. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education

4. 1 STUDIES ARE TOPIC, THEME, OR PROBLEM-CENTERED. Instead of focusing on a specific subject or discipline, interdisciplinary instruction begins with the selection of a topic, theme, or real life problem in an academic discipline. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education

5. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education State education department curriculum guides help teachers select topics, themes, and problems to teach at each grade level.

6. Families Friends Our School Neighborhood World Communities The Amazon River Basin Rainforests Ancient Greece Mediterranean Lands The Civil War The American Revolution The Great Depression Typical Topics Central America Animal Life Our Community Africa An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education

7. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education 2 STUDENT DIVERSITY IS EASILY ACCOMMODATED The interdisciplinary approach provides opportunities for students to learn in ways that are best for them. These include a variety of learning and reporting options. WRITING PANELS DRAWINGS PROJECTS ORAL REPORTS others

8. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Making decisions about what should be studied about a topic and. . . Suggesting the questions for their research. Students are involved in:

9. 3 TWO OR MORE ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES AND WAYS OF KNOWING ARE USED TO RESEARCH THE TOPIC, THEME, OR PROBLEM. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education anthropology civics economics geography history language arts & literature mathematics performing arts political science psychology sociology technology visual arts (and others) Academic Disciplines .

10. Ways of Knowing An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education direct and indirect observation analysis of resources and problems study, creation, and analysis of maps exploration of materials scientific experimentation historical inquiry surveys raising questions study of original documents analysis of relationships among people and government discovery learning reflection case studies (and others)

11. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Other Areas That May Be Included in a Unit career education consumerism current events ecology global issues health issues the future human rights issues multicultural issues substance abuse values clarification

12. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Projects & Activities constructions demonstrations dioramas puppet shows field trips internet searches web crawls panel discussions murals presentations oral and written reports research creative writing skills lessons multimedia programs (and others)

13. 4 EQUAL EMPHASIS IS GIVEN TO THE LEARNING PROCESSES AND MASTERY OF CONTENT. Learning Processes An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education the scientific method research processes brainstorming cooperative learning role playing study groups and others

14. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Summary Interdisciplinary Instruction: Is topic-centered. Uses any disciplines and ways of knowing that inform the questions of a study. Accommodates student diversity by providing for the differentiation of student investigating and reporting techniques. Emphasizes mastery of the learning processes as well as the content to be learned.

15. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Support for the Interdisciplinary Approach Learning theories and constructs supporting the interdisciplinary approach include those of a number of recognized specialists.

16. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Theory: Piaget described the thinking of young children as centered . In a young child’s mind, isolated concepts and information tend to remain unrelated to their previous fund of knowledge. Interdisciplinary studies help young students to note relationships between their previous knowledge and the concepts in topics and problems they study.

17. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Theory: Vygotsky and Piaget both emphasized the importance of students’ social interaction in learning. Research Committees Peer Teams Interdisciplinary instruction provides many opportunities for students to work together cooperatively. Zone of Proximal Development Scaffolding

18. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Theory: Sternberg suggested that because students learn in a variety of ways, teachers need to differentiate their instruction. Interdisciplinary studies provide for the differentiation of instruction and student reporting options. Today, this is of particular importance for inclusion .

19. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education linguistic logical-mathematical spatial musical interpersonal intrapersonal bodily-kinesthetic naturalist existential Theory: Howard Gardner recommends that students need opportunities to learn and to show what they have learned using their multiple intelligences . The interdisciplinary method offers students opportunities to make use of their individual learning abilities.

20. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Human brain research indicates that the brain processes information more efficiently when presented with holistic, interdisciplinary studies.

21. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Skills: Students often have difficulty learning skills taught and practiced in isolation. reading for information the research process writing reports computation oral reports panel discussions charts and graphs designing art and other projects (and others) Many academic skills can be taught and practiced in the meaningful context of an interdisciplinary study. a + b = c a = 3 b = 2

22. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Sources: A single source, such as use of only one textbook, is inadequate for a comprehensive study. books the internet newspapers magazines interviews field trips videos video presentations (and others) Interdisciplinary studies require students to use multiple sources.

23. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Make it possible for young students —whose thinking tends to be centered— to process information more accurately and effectively. Foster social opportunities for students to interact with one another and to work together cooperatively. Summary of the Rationale for Using an Interdisciplinary Approach Interdisciplinary instruction and constructivist methods:

24. Provide a meaningful context for teaching and practicing academic skills. Make use of multiple sources of information. Respond to core curriculum standards by stimulating critical thinking, questioning, and the search for supportive evidence. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education

25. Provide for the differentiation of instruction. Offer opportunities for students to work in all multiple intelligence areas. Include holistic studies for more efficient processing in the human brain. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education

26. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Interdisciplinary instruction involves several special requirements of teachers.

27. A compatible, constructivist, philosophy. Knowledge of child development and learning theory. A good fund of general knowledge . An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education Interdisciplinary teachers need to have:

28. Good classroom management skills. Skills in planning lessons as well as interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary units. The ability to work collaboratively with other teachers and specialists. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education

29. Dr. Karlyn Wood © Professor Emeritus School of Education State University of New York College at Old Westbury An Interdisciplinary Approach to Education E N D Interdisciplinary Instruction Presentation 1 Theory and Rationale Wood, K. E. (2015). Interdisciplinary Instruction: Unit and Lesson Planning Strategies K-8 (5 th ed.). Lake Grove, IL: Waveland Press. https://www.wavelandpress.com