Describes the development and implementation of an interdisciplinary field course in Costa Rica focused on sustainable development. The semester-long curriculum integrated sociology, political economy, and agricultural ecology. The curriculum was empirically based and involved faculty members and students working collaboratively on different…

Examines effective lesson-planning under the integrated curriculum approach. Proposes a seven-step plan of writing, discussing, and revising proposed plans. Suggests that using the writing process in lesson planning as a team creates a multidisciplinary, integrated curriculum with organized, power-packed lessons and activities, offering a…

Describes a model used for implementing middle grade reform in California public schools. Ten regional networks of 8 to 12 schools in geographic proximity were formed. Results of an evaluation indicated that, when supported by colleagues in their regional network, educators working in interdisciplinary teams implemented reforms in curriculum,…

At the University of California-San Francisco, a multidisciplinary teaching group from dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and social/behavioral sciences leads a multidisciplinary student team in a clinical experience in a nursing home. The program provides specialized experience in geriatric care and encourages teamwork. (MSE)

Since 1991, a formerly rundown Baltimore middle school's reform efforts have been propelled by visionary administrative leadership; a collegial team of empowered teachers; a responsive, teacher-designed curriculum and instructional model; nongraded, schools-within-a school, interdisciplinary team-teaching; and productive school-business…

This study examined how professional learning communities develop, using cross-subject teams within the context of HUMANITAS, a program designed to promote teachers' professional growth and effectiveness by creating a voluntary "community of learners" for teachers and students. Data were gathered from teacher interviews, team…

This issue brief discusses three key strategies for providing special education and related service support to all students with disabilities in general education settings: (1) interdisciplinary instruction, (2) team teaching, and (3) block scheduling. Interdisciplinary instruction in the special education context is extended to include speech and…

The purpose of this team unit is to provide students with knowledge, experience and an appreciation of technology. This unit is designed to give students an opportunity to solve problems in technology through cooperative learning activities in addition to addressing the needs of the individual student. This unit is intended to take 6 weeks for…

A college-level Southern studies course, team-taught by a history professor and a speech communication professor and designed to integrate the study of history with the study of public address, is described in this paper. After pointing out the interrelation of public address and its historical and political context, the paper lists the topics of…

Unlike modern foreign languages, but like English and Biblical Hebrew, the Graeco-Roman tradition constitutes a major component of the cultural identity of every native speaker of English, and, as such, should be a mandatory part of every American's intellectual luggage. Because of the academy's relectance to face the fact that our active…

Examined effects of school socioeconomic status, student race/ethnicity, gender, family composition, and school organization on students' sense of belonging. For high SES schools, no statistically significant effects were obtained for the five variables; for low SES schools, statistically significant main effects were obtained for student gender,…

Describes how problem solving was incorporated into a clinical science curriculum by using a team teaching approach. The review of the content domain, the examination of objectives and test items, and the steps in the team development are included. The steps in development of the program are considered. (KR)

A recent case study examined how the organizational changes from junior high to middle school influenced the science program for a large North Carolina school system, focusing on teacher preparation, time allocation, interdisciplinary instruction, equipment allocation, and information and leadership issues. Science instruction was enhanced under…

Describes a team-taught college course designed to develop philosophical literacy among students as groundwork for future humanities courses. Unifying motif was "dialog" between faculty from different areas of expertise; the concept of philosophy as dialog; and the student-teacher relationship as dialog. Discusses course design, lessons learned,…

Three courses in the adult education division of Loyola University (Louisiana) combined religious studies and literature appreciation using an interdisciplinary, team-taught approach. Instruction was guided by the metaphor of conversation, first through collegial discussion of the ideas underlying the courses and later, in the classroom, in the…