LibGuides: LCT-5003: Week 6 Resources

Week 6 Required Resources

Curriculum Essentials: A Journey
Pressbook. (2025). Curriculum essentials: A journey. Philosophical Foundations of Curriculum.
https://oer.pressbooks.pub/curriculumessentials/

Chapter 5: This chapter examines curriculum integration, emphasizing its role in fostering critical thinking and meaningful learning by connecting subject areas. It explores various integration models, such as broad fields curriculum and interdisciplinary thematic units, while addressing benefits like enhanced engagement and reduced knowledge fragmentation alongside challenges such as teacher preparedness. Practical strategies for implementation focus on aligning content with learning objectives while maintaining disciplinary integrity.
Chapter 11: This chapter provides practical steps for integrating curriculum, including identifying thematic connections, aligning content standards, and designing cross-disciplinary assessments. It highlights the importance of collaboration, professional development, and co-teaching models while addressing challenges like curriculum overload and institutional resistance. A case study illustrates the positive impact of integration on student engagement and learning outcomes, advocating for a balanced and inclusive approach.

A Case Study of Interdisciplinary Thematic Learning Curriculum to Cultivate "4C Skills"
Ye, P., & Xu, X. (2023). A case study of interdisciplinary thematic learning curriculum to cultivate "4C skills". Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1080811
Critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity are essential 21st-century skills, and interdisciplinary thematic learning serves as a valuable approach for their development. This study examined 32 second-year middle school students in Xiamen, Fujian Province, engaging in problem-solving tasks on “visual disaster weather” to assess their 4C skill growth. Findings suggest that real-world problem-based interdisciplinary learning fosters creativity, strengthens group collaboration, and enhances critical thinking through questioning and critique.

Collaborative Planning: Integrating Curriculum Across Subjects
Edutopia. (2018). Collaborative planning: Integrating curriculum across subjects [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCy4PSOvkL4
This video provides an example of staff members (Hood River Middle School) collaborating on projects across subjects to make learning relevant, connected, and engaging.