Research

Leveling the Disciplinary Playing Field: A Plan to Integrate ILGs

In this Thesis I outline the concept of Interdisciplinary Learning Goals (ILGs) as the synthesizing of multiple academic and non-academic standards into cohesive learning objectives. These ILGs serve as tools to facilitate interdisciplinary learning by identifying linguistic commonalities across different standards, enabling cross-collaboration between academic subjects and promoting the acquisition of 21st-century skills. The broader goal is to develop ILGs into a user-friendly mobile application to make interdisciplinary education more accessible to K-12 educators and school districts. This initiative seeks to address the challenges posed by the dominance of traditional disciplinary education and the difficulties teachers encounter when trying to incorporate interdisciplinary practices into their classrooms.

An Approach to Interdisciplinary Curriculum & Instruction

As a curriculum designer, I strive to balance traditional standards-based curriculum with interdisciplinary approaches. My experience in Visual Art and English Language Arts underscores the advantages of arts integration, spanning academic subjects, social-emotional well-being, and technology proficiency. In response to the changing needs of post-pandemic classrooms, I'm developing a structured approach that seamlessly integrates academic standards, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), and Integration of Technology in the Classroom (ITC) standards through Interdisciplinary Learning Goals (ILGs). 

Drawing inspiration from models like the Integrated Curriculum Model (ICM), my approach emphasizes student autonomy, positive interactions, and academic rigor, employing backward planning and a continuous improvement cycle. Using Design Thinking principles, I consider the unique requirements of schools, educators, students, and communities, with the aim of revolutionizing curriculum development and enhancing academic and personal growth opportunities for students.

Promoting Interdisciplinary Education

Interdisciplinary education offers numerous benefits, including fostering twenty-first-century skills, promoting collaboration across academic and non-academic disciplines, and nurturing creativity and self-confidence in students. It can increase self-efficacy, develop critical thinking skills, and foster ethical awareness. The Framework for Twenty-first Century skills is a powerful interdisciplinary tool, but it faces challenges in the predominantly disciplinary U.S. educational system. Arts education plays a pivotal role in interdisciplinary education, but its support is declining in the U.S., necessitating its promotion as an interdisciplinary vehicle. 

However, interdisciplinary practices, including STEAM, face societal barriers, known as the "hegemony of disciplinary education." To succeed, interdisciplinary education should follow a well-structured curriculum sequence and focus on teacher preparation and development to empower educators as effective interdisciplinarians, avoiding being tied to disciplinary structures.