Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This article describes the appropriateness of integrative curricula in addressing the educational needs of gifted learners. Integrative curriculaunify subject matter from a variety of disciplines around a series of generalizations. This unification presents students with a sophisticated, comprehensive view of the world. In graduate seminars at three universities, a series of steps were designed to provide guidance in the development of integrative curricular units. The steps are: (a) identify and select materials amenable to the integration process, (b) study the materials to extrapolate generalizations, (c) evaluate the materials to determine their appropriateness for gifted learners, (d) select a general format for the units, and (e) solicit input from professionals. The article delineates the manner in which these steps were employed to design integrative curricular units focusing on The Search for Solutions film series. Additionally, this article presents: a general unit format, an application of that format using “Patterns” as an interdisciplinary theme, and an annotated bibliography of integrative curricular material sources.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bruner

J. S.

(1960). The process of education. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Bruner

J. S.

(1966). Toward a theory of instruction. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Dressel

P. L.

(1958). The meaning and significance of integration. In Henry

N. B.

(ed.), Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education: Part 3. Vol. 57. The integration of educational experiences (pp. 31–35). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Jacobs

H. H.

& Borland

J. H.

(1986). The interdisciplinary concept model: Theory and practice. Gifted Child Quarterly 30, 159–163.

Judson

H. F.

(1980). The search for solutions. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Maker

C. J.

(1982). Curriculum development for the gifted. Rockville, MD: Aspen System Corporation.

Maker

C. J.

(1986). Developing scope and sequence in curriculum. Gifted Child Quarterly 30, 151–158.

Passow

A. H.

(1982). Differentiated curriculum for the gifted/talented: A point of view. In Sato

I. S.

(ed.), Curricula for the gifted (pp. 4–20). Proceedings of the First National Conference on Curricula for the Gifted/Talented. Ventura, CA: The National/State Leadership Training Institute on the Gifted and Talented.

Phenix

P. H.

(1982). Toward realms of meaning: Curricular implications for the gifted/talented. In Sato

I. S.

(ed.), Curricula for the gifted (pp. 21–25). Proceedings of the First National Conference on Curricula for the Gifted/Talented. Ventura, CA: The National/State Leadership Training Institute on the Gifted and Talented.

10.

Phillips Petroleum Company (1979). The search for solutions: Video/Film series. Bartlesville, OK: Phillips Petroleum Public Affairs.

11.

Tyler

R. W.

(1958). Curriculum organization. In Henry

N. B.

(ed.), Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education: Part 3. Vol. 57. The integration of educational experiences (pp. 105–125). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

12.

Van Tassel-Baska

(1985). Appropriate curriculum for the gifted. In Feldhusen

J. F.

(ed.), Toward excellence in gifted education (pp. 45–67). Denver, CO: Love Publishing Company.

13.

Ward

V. S.

(1961). Educating the gifted: An axiomatic approach. Columbus, OH: Charles E. Merrill.

Techniques and Sources for Developing Integrative Curriculum for the Gifted

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References