21st Century Strands & Strategies
Chapter: Strands & Strategies: Deep Dive
58
Comparing and Contrasting the Three Approaches to Integration
Element
Multidisciplinary
Interdisciplinary
Transdisciplinary
Organizing
Center
Standards of the
disciplines
organized around a
theme
Interdisciplinary skills and
concepts embedded in
disciplinary standards
Real-life context
Student questions
Conception of
Knowledge
Knowledge best
learned through
the structure of the
disciplines
A right answer
One truth
Disciplines connected by
common concepts and
skills
Knowledge considered to
be socially constructed
Many right answers
All knowledge
interconnected and
interdependent
Many right answers
Knowledge considered to
be indeterminate and
ambiguous
Role of
Disciplines
Procedures of
discipline
considered most
important
Distinct skills and
concepts of
discipline taught
Interdisciplinary skills and
concepts stressed
Disciplines identified if
desired, but real-life
context emphasized
Role of
Teacher
Facilitator
Specialist
Facilitator
Specialist/generalist
Coplanner
Colearner
Generalist/specialist
Starting Place
Disciplinary
standards and-
procedures
Interdisciplinary bridge
KNOW/DO/BE
Student questions and
concerns
Real-world context
Degree of
Integration
Moderate
Medium/intense
Paradigm shift
Assessment
Discipline-based
Interdisciplinary
skills/concepts stressed
Interdisciplinary
skills/concepts stressed
KNOW?
Concepts and
essential
understandings
across disciplines
Concepts and essential
understandings across
disciplines
Concepts and essential
understandings across
disciplines
DO?
Disciplinary skills as
the focal point
Interdisciplinary
skills also included
Interdisciplinary skills as
the focal point
Disciplinary skills also
included
Interdisciplinary skills and
disciplinary skills applied in
a real-life context
BE?
•
Democratic values
•
Character education
•
Habits of mind
•
Life skills (e.g., teamwork, self-responsibility)
