tutorial on cross- curricular teaching i. background

TUTORIAL ON CROSS-CURRICULAR TEACHING

I. BACKGROUND

European recommendations on water

• Improvement of Water protection Directives and Laws

• Shift to an integrated approach

• Also in education: shift from disciplinary approach to cross-curricular approach

• Active citizenship necessitates a change in teaching methods!

• European attention for Key Competences

Key competences for lifelong learning

1) Communication in the mother tongue

2) Communication in foreign languages

3) Mathematical competence and basic competences in science and technology

4) Digital competence

5) Learning to learn

6) Social and civic competences

7) Sense of initiative and entrepreneurship

8) Cultural awareness and expression

Current status of key competences

in Europe• Substantial activity in creating lifelong

learning strategies

• Research shows that many countries move to a cross-curricular approach to exercise key competences

What are the challenges for school education?

• Be aware of the key competences and go beyond mere “transfer of knowledge”

• Choose suitable subjects to integrate key competences

• Involve the whole school

• Organise cooperation between teachers of the entire school community

Supporting organisations

• GREEN (Global River Environment Education Network www.earthforce.org/section/programs)

• GLOBE (Global learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment www.globe.gov)

• La riviere m’a dit (www.frapna.org) which was a great inspiration for the Free Your River platform

• The European Community website «Environment for Young Europeans» suggestions for school activities, games and questions for personal learning, with a specific section for Water http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/youth

TUTORIAL ON CROSS-CURRICULAR TEACHING

II. A Cross Curricular Approach

General ideas

• Apply knowledge, principles and values simultaneously to more than one subject

• Relate the subjects through a common theme or event

• Establish a framework with learning goals in an integrated lesson

Selecting the Theme

• Wide range of “water” topics

• Availability of resources

• Curriculum Guidelines

• Pupil interests

• Pupil attention spans

Planning and Management

• How many hours should be spent on the series of lessons?

• Ensure variety and flexibility• 1 coordinator + cooperation of others• Meetings• Partnerships• Clear Aims• Achievable Outcomes

Assessment

• To motivate learning and help pupils to actively engage in the learning process

• Teacher evaluations

• Project evaluations

Pupil Benefits

• Establishes links between subjects

• Initiates transferable learning skills (e.g. team work)

• Promotes combined learning practices

• Fosters partnership rather than competition

• Facilitates active teaching and learning

• Accommodates different levels of ability

• It’s fun!

Staff Benefits

• Creates a more cohesive outlook

• Promotes mutual support and communication

• Clarifies teaching and learning objectives

• Goes beyond the limitation of subject focus

• Develops cooperative learning strategies

• It’s fun!

Challenges!

• Possible need of some in-service training

• Complimentary may be interpreted as repetition

• Presentation of work may create additional demands

• Evaluation may show conflicting viewpoints