Combining the Big Ideas

This article starts with an explanation of the different between interdisciplinary approaches and integrated approaches to education. The interdisciplinary approach pulls together several d... See More

This article starts with an explanation of the different between interdisciplinary approaches and integrated approaches to education. The interdisciplinary approach pulls together several distinct disciplines used to explain or understand a concept while the integrated blends to different disciplines into one. The author uses the topic of nanoscience and looks at the math and science national standards to describe big topics and how each discipline approaches it. Even if you don’t read the article the charts are valuable to connecting the two disciplines and using that connection to advance an inquiry approach. As the author points out: “Making the important connection between basic principles and the application to commercial products and techniques affords students the opportunity to better understand the world in which we live.”