How can learning be better facilitated?

Learning best occurs when connections are made on existing knowledge.

Curriculum mapping is a first step to finding connections.

Curriculum integration can strengthen the disciplines. (Heidi Hayes Jacobs)

Curriculum integration can be designed.

Children need to make connections; the real world has too many distractions. We must provide them with the proper environment.

Knowledge has grown exponentially, yet the amount of time we have to teach it has not increased.

When a child's mind is captured, they will become absorbed in what they're doing and they will become self-motivated.

Students often drop out of school because they fail to make connections between disciplines.

Learning requires a range of perspectives. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Sometimes you cannot integrate because certain themes are exclusive to a single discipline. You cannot connect every discipline in every lesson.

Both perspectives (interdisciplinary/disciplinary) are mutually dependant.

Curriculum Mapping - What you actually teach & what you will not teach.

Honest curriculum mapping can prevent repetition and students' boredom.

Curriculum integration = integrating teachers.

Options for Designing Curriculum

Discipline Field Base - separating disciplines

Parallel Disciplines

Multi-Disciplinary Units (2-3 disciplines)

Inter-Disciplinary (encompasses a wide range of disciplines)

      -Focus on curricular expectations

      -Meet students' needs

      -Integrated units require careful planning and teamwork.

      -Students retain more information from integrated units.

Teachers choose, shape, and alter curriculum whether or not they notice it.