Integrated Curriculum Goes Beyond The Classroom
Integrated Curriculum Goes Beyond the Classroom
—James A. Bean
What is an Integrated Curriculum?
An integrated curriculum is a curriculum that is brought into a classroom that is unlike a traditional curriculum. It brings about various new ideas that allow students to understand content in various different ways. Integrated curriculum does not follow the traditional classroom in offering only subject-based topics such as math, science, and reading. Rather offers content in a way that the student can apply what they are learning to their own life and take it out of the classroom. The traditional curriculum is focused on rote memorization and not teaching the students how to put what they are learning to use. An integrated curriculum allows students to gain knowledge in subjects while also putting what they are learning to use outside of the classroom. The integrated curriculum is adaptable to many different learning styles and offers various hands-on activities to ensure that the student has mastered the content.Traditional Curriculum
Inside a traditional classroom, the curriculum is set into separate subjects such as science, mathematics, and language arts. Traditional education focuses on subject-specific knowledge and habitual memorization. Traditional education centers on a teacher-centered classroom with standardized tests and a passive and less hands-on learning environment.
Integrated Curriculum
Inside an integrated classroom students are the focal point and can make their own decisions, connecting different subjects and concepts, and promoting critical thinking and problem-solving. The learning environment is interactive and hands-on, with opportunities for problem-solving and real-world application.
Key Aspects of An Integrated Curriculum
- Real-World Connections- Learning is beyond isolated subjects and allows students to make real-world connections.
- Holistic Learning Approach- Fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Collaborative learning- Students may choose to work independently or in groups.
- Increased Engagement- Classrooms utilize tools that allow students to learn through exploration and manipulation creating a deeper sense of engagement.
- Self-Directed Learning- Students are encouraged to choose activities that best suit them and help them foster learning.
An Integrated Classroom at Work
Imagine looking into a classroom where students work independently or in small groups, at tables, on rugs, or on the floor. In a montessori classroom, students can choose where they work and work at their own speed. Students are allowed to explore subjects that interest them and foster a love for learning. Subjects such as math, science, and language are not taught in isolation but are taught interconnected. This allows students to build those connections and see the relationships between different types of knowledge. The montessori classroom is just one example of an integrated curriculum at work.
Beyond The Classroom
Integrated curriculum offers an approach that is different than in traditional education. It focuses on the student and what they wish to learn rather than focusing on what the student needs for rote memorization. The integrated curriculum allows for the curriculum to be student-focused the foster a love for learning. Making learning more relevant, connecting different subjects, and encouraging a deeper understanding of what a student is learning. Through an integrated curriculum, students learn real-world skills and move beyond isolated subjects, showing students how knowledge applies to real-life situations, and making learning more engaging and meaningfulReferences-
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