The Integrated Curriculum: a Reality Check

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The Integrated Curriculum a Reality Check

• By Paul S. George
• Power Point by Michelle Vega

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Purposes of Georges Article

• To help develop a relevant, realistic, and
  rigorous curriculum
• To examine practices currently used
• To present educators with reasons to be cautious
  when implementing new methods

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The classroom is currently undergoing many
changes.

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Classrooms are trying to become

• More challenging
• More exploratory
• More engaging
• Sustain interest better
• Integrative

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Georges Stance on Curriculum Integration

• Too few know about it
• Too little research
• It will soon be forgotten

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Georges 15 reasons why an integrated curriculum
(IC) isnt really all that great
11. IC may not have more natural integrity
because each discipline has its own domain of
knowledge.
12. IC may not provide more involvement in the
environment.
13. IC may not encourage more independent
learning than a traditional curriculum.
14. An IC may not present more real-life
problems than a traditional program.
15. There is no evidence that an IC addresses
living concerns better than a traditional program.
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Georges 15 reasons why an integrated curriculum
(IC) isnt really all that great
6. IC may not lead to more application of
curriculum outcomes.
7. IC may not lead to more use of prior
knowledge.
8. IC may not lead to deeper learning.
9. IC may not lead to teachers being
facilitators.
10. IC may not necessarily lead to more student
involvement.
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Georges 15 reasons why an integrated curriculum
(IC) isnt really all that great
1. IC may not promote 3 central goals of
education academic achievement, personal
development, and group harmony.
2. IC may not invigorate or excite teachers.
3. IC may not lead to more retention or transfer
of information.
4. IC may not pay more attention to process
concerns.
5. IC may not lead to more concrete experiences
for the slow learners.
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More reasons you should think twice before using
an integrated curriculum (IC)

• Lack of class momentum
• Unprepared teachers
• Neither teachers nor parents fully understand

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More reasons you should think twice before using
an integrated curriculum (IC)

• Lack of resources
• Lack of planning time
• Loss of subject value
• Inability of teachers to get better with
  experience

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More reasons you should think twice before using
an integrated curriculum (IC)

• May not prepare students for high school
• May not coincide with standardized testing

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More reasons you should think twice before using
an integrated curriculum (IC)

• May lead to forcing subjects together
• May make learning more complicated
• Mind integrates information already
• Loss of parent support

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More reasons you should think twice before using
an integrated curriculum (IC)

• Current system undervalued
• Teachers forced to rethink their techniques
• Important aspects of curriculum done away with
• With so little skill and money, IC is doomed to
  fail anyway

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Georges Conclusions

• IC has potential that has yet to be realized.
• Teachers should be critical of IC as well as any
  other method that comes along.
• IC advocates should work on clarifying what IC is
  and conducting further research to prove its
  effectiveness.

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Bibliography

• George, P.S. (1996). The integrated curriculum
  A reality check. Middle School Journal, 28,
  12-19.