While it is certainly true that teachers and students teach and learn subjects, what falls into the parameters of truly understanding that subject may be varied. Understanding is difficult to develop if students cannot make choices that will increase their understanding. Often teachers do not know where students need to “take” a subject area in order to fully understand it. If the “why” question is to be fully explored and discovered, then students must be free to “cross lines”, so to speak and even cross subjects, in order to fully understand.
For example, to fully understand why countries go to war, various subjects must be explored and allowed to intersect so that students can gain the “full picture”. Where and when and who (History), why (Politics, Economics). In K-12, Social Studies has long been the subject title which gives more scope for full understanding, however, if K-12 students are to fully explore to understand, there may need to be options to integrate other inputs from related subject areas and/or explorable topics.
This most recent and energetic push towards integrated learning in K-12 is STEM. These environments require integration at various levels including curricula, instructional mediation and delivery. Gary Wong in a 2017 publication explains:
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education has become one of the fastest growing trends in curriculum development around the globe. Integrated STEM education undoubtedly forms a new multifaceted phenomenon in education to prepare students to meet the new challenges of the 21st century.
Interestingly, however, STEM education still remains as a separate area within the educational journey and some students may not really benefit from this if they see themselves as Art students or Music students. Therefore, while more integrated, STEM has not fully altered the entire learning journey of students.
TIP: Keeping asking the “why” question and provides options for students to explore and discover widely.
Coming up next, “My lesson plans must be clearly teaching to the standards”. Stay tuned...