SELF-STUDY: Integrated Curriculum (10 hours)

“Develop an integrated curriculum that caters to your students’ learning needs best.”

Welcome to this dual course aimed to help you understand more about an integrated curriculum. This dual course consists of the following 5 hour courses:

• Standard Based Instruction through STEM
• Common Core Mathematics for all Teachers

In the simplest sense, an integrated curriculum is about making connections across disciplines, and then connects the disciplines to real life. This two part online PD integrated course will equip educators who are concerned with improving student achievement to create relevant, rigorous, and engaging curriculums for their classrooms.

In the first section, teachers are shown that optimal STEM integration doesn’t need a huge budget, lots of technology, or a ready-to-use curriculum. It’s something any teacher, any school and any classroom can do well. We understand that no one knows your students better than you. Therefore, this course is designed to equip and encourage you to integrate STEM education into your classrooms in ways that are most suitable for your students. You will learn how to plan your classroom set-up keeping in mind the needs of your students. You will also become confident to design your own STEM curriculum, while integrating the standards, including the Common Core Standards. STEM education is not just about doing what’s “cool” and “in.” It is essential in today’s world that our students learn to apply what they learn in real life situations and across different subjects. The STEM model helps prepare our students for the 21st century.

The second section focuses on Math – a subject that is very connected with every other subject taught in the classroom. This section is designed to help any teacher gain confidence in areas related to mathematics and the common core. Common Core Mathematics for All Teachers helps teachers understand math practices and application of math through the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). It helps teachers understand ways in which these practices can be incorporated into any classroom, explains the different ways a teacher can enhance student learning, and encourages teachers to set up their classroom in a way that increases student involvement and makes math real and fun for everyone. Mathematics education is changing today and is no more just about solving questions on paper. This section will help thus equip Math, Science, Language Arts and Social Studies teachers to gain confidence in integrating math effectively in their teaching practice.