
I got my first taste of interdisciplinary learning when I was in the seventh grade. The fact that I can remember the lessons, the outcomes and the experience itself more than 40 years later is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary and experiential learning.
When I was in my student teaching immersion in college, I worked with an amazing mentor teacher who allowed me to see the joy of this learning model from the other side. The questions students asked and the amount of engagement we saw solidified what I already knew: Educators must get children involved in the learning process.
This week on the Education Evolution podcast, I’m sharing some of the research out there around interdisciplinary education and what it looks like in real time. Every child in schools today will grow up to be part of the larger world. Don’t we owe it to them to allow them to use the skills they’re learning right away, rather than relying on rote memorization?
Jump Through the Conversation
[1:12] How Maureen experienced experiential learning in 7th grade
[3:11] What, why and how of experiential learning
[3:38] Why teachers should go through the work of creating interdisciplinary lessons
[7:53] How LEADPrep prepared to “go interdisciplinary”
[10:20] What our version of interdisciplinary will look like for the fall
[13:25] Tapping into educators with more experience
[14:32] Maureen’s Magic Wand: The isolated silos of each subject becomes real-world blended and relevant for our learners
Links and Resources:
- Open Learn’s Benefits of Interdisciplinary Studies
- Interdisciplinary Learning Works: The Results of a Comprehensive Assessment of Students and Student Learning Outcomes in an Integrative Learning Community
- The University of the Future Will Be Interdisciplinary
- Bank Street College of Education graduate institution in NYC
- Bank Street K-8 Demonstration School
- Bank Street – Sky’s the Limit: elementary unit in NY studying own models of multipurpose skyscrapers
- Bank Street – Studying the Subway: first grade interdisciplinary study
- Juliani’s Launch Model – design thinking
- Andy Smallman
- Amanda Kern Chambers of the Teton Science School
- Learn more about multi-tiered systems of support
- Find out about LEADPrep’s multi-tiered systems of support
- Email Maureen
- Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
- Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
- LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
- Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids
Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.
Latest Episodes
Leading Like a Teacher with Miriam Plotinsky
The further away administrators get from their roots as teachers, the more they forget what it’s like to be in the trenches. The result is often either a real or perceived lack of empathy for teachers. Both teachers and administrators have vital roles in the school,...
Following the Evidence for Effective Policy with Darleen Opfer
We all want what’s best for our learners, but oftentimes biases get in the way of having productive conversations about what learning should look like in the classroom. Instead, we need to have evidence- and research-based conversations that support what truly works...
Early Life Nutrition is Key to Wellness with Cynthia Jackson
Hopefully we all know the importance of nutrition early in life, but not enough schools offer nutrition education. And since children often do what their parents do, adults’ poor food choices get passed down generation after generation. This week on the podcast, I’m...
Latest Blog Posts
Why Isn’t Educational Change Happening?
School change is so much harder than I thought! When I did my doctoral research on school innovation and created a hands-on learning school-within-a-school in the 90s, I had no idea that I’d spend the next few decades making tiny changes. Changes that often...
Instilling a Practice of Gratitude in Uncertain Times
Thanksgiving looks different this year. Traditions are being shattered in 2020 and new realities are emerging. Thanksgiving is no exception. After Canada’s Thanksgiving in October, COVID statistics jumped, reminding us that, sadly, the pandemic isn’t taking a break...
Building Interdisciplinary Learning into Traditional Classrooms
A traditional classroom setting is just that...traditional. Teachers must teach specific subjects for a required amount of time, often using prescribed curriculum materials that may be a decade old. There’s little consideration for the individual learner--their...
Categories
Coming Soon
Subscribe
Related Posts
Following the Evidence for Effective Policy with Darleen Opfer
We can all be active in policy making, starting at our own schools level. Parent and teacher involvement is vital in ensuring that we focus on overall coherence in our schools.
Early Life Nutrition is Key to Wellness with Cynthia Jackson
Tune in to discover how education and practical programs are transforming lives by providing access to nutritious food and empowering young learners to develop lifelong healthy eating habits.
Creating More Meaning for Students with Michael Strong
In our conversation, Michael and I talk about why student choice is so important, why psychological safety matters more than test scores, and when parents should search for other options for their children.
Sign Up for Podcast & Blog Updates
and Get our Free Guide:
Five Interdependent Hacks to Lead the Creation of a Learner-Centered Culture!
By providing your email address you are agreeing to receive email communications from Education Evolution.
You can unsubscribe at any time.