Promoting an Integrated Approach to Teaching and Learning through - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Promoting an Integrated Approach to Teaching and Learning through Curriculum and Pedagogy By the NEL ConneX team

• Choa Chu Kang Bible Centre Kindergarten • E-Bridge Pre-school (Edgedale Plains) • EtonHouse Preschool Vanda • MOE Kindergarten @ Punggol View • MOE Kindergarten @ Riverside • PCF Sparkletots @ Telok Blangah Blk 44 CC • Pre-school By-The-Park • MY World Preschool HQ • Pre-school Education The NEL ConneX Team Branch, MOE

Outline • WHAT is an integrated approach to teaching & learning about? • WHY is an integrated approach to teaching & learning important? • HOW can an integrated approach to teaching & learning be put in practice through curriculum and pedagogy? • thematic approach using a 5-step teaching protocol inquiry approach using listening pedagogy • co-operative learning strategies • • building a learning culture • WHAT have we learnt?

WHAT is an integrated approach to teaching & learning about?

To you, what is an integrated approach to teaching & learning about? (Pick the option that resonates with you most) It is about helping children make meaningful connections … A. Across different learning areas B. Between previous learning, new learning and extended learning C. Between children’s interests/experiences and new learning D. Between different contexts (indoors & outdoors; home & preschool)

What is an integrated approach to teaching & learning about? The NEL Framework says… • Plan learning experiences as a whole and in meaningful contexts and not by distinct subjects - Plan learning experiences based on themes, stories or projects that are built on children’s interest and level of understanding • Help children draw meaningful connections - across different learning areas - between previous and current learning and expand on their existing understanding

What is an integrated approach to teaching & learning about? Based on our NEL ConneX conversations and literature , it could be about helping children make meaningful connections … • Across different learning areas • Between previous learning, new learning and extended learning • Between their interests/experiences and new learning Expanding our understanding • Between different children’s ideas/experiences of an • Between different contexts (indoors & outdoors; home & preschool) integrated • Across their experiences in different languages approach to teaching and learning

What is an integrated approach to teaching & learning about? “ The integration of the knowledge process emphasizes a fusion of ideas and concepts within and across subject areas and broader life experiences in an attempt to make education more relevant and meaningful for children . It is seen as a way to support the transfer of learning and skills from one situation to another , teach children to think and reason, and provide a more relevant curriculum to engage their interest . ” (Hayes, D., 2010) Source: Hayes, D. (2010). The seductive charms of a cross-curricular approach. Education, 3 – 13, 38(4), 381-387, https://doi.org/10.1080/03004270903519238

WHY is an integrated approach to teaching & learning important?

Why is an integrated approach to teaching & learning important? • Learning is a highly integrated process which cannot be separated into distinct domains (Piaget, 1969; Bruner, 1960) as children do not conceive the world as if it is divided into separate cubbyholes (Barbosa, A. & Vale, I., 2014). • Children need to learn through concrete experiences which build on each other and lead to new experiences and further learning (Caine & Caine, 1991). • The love and joy for learning could be killed if knowledge was presented in a fragmented manner (Jensen, 1996; Hinde, E. T., 2005). • An integrated approach to teaching and learning allows for deep learning (Jablon, 1992; Drake, S. M. & Reid, J. L. 2018). • The best outcomes for children occur with an integrated approach to teaching and learning (Hamre, Pianta, Mashburn & Downer, 2009; Sylva, Siraj-Blachford, & Taggart, 2003; Sylva et al., 2007).

HOW can an integrated approach to teaching & learning be put in practice through curriculum and pedagogy?

Promoting an integrated approach to teaching and learning through a thematic approach using a 5-step teaching protocol Ms Sharifah Nooraishah Sayed Zaaba Lead Teacher MOE Kindergarten @ Punggol View

Promoting an integrated approach through themes Through a thematic approach, we design integrated learning experiences to help children make connections , thereby developing a deeper and broader level of understanding of the world around them . When children learn through a theme, they are learning in context. They learn about topics that are meaningful and relevant to their own lives. This helps them understand a topic and apply their knowledge to solve real-life problems . 14

Promoting an integrated approach through themes Learn arning ing Area eas: Aesthetics and Creative Expression Discovery of the World Language and Literacy Motor Skills Development Numeracy Social and Emotional Development Learn arning ing Disposit itio ions (PRAIS RAISE): ): Perseverance Reflectiveness Appreciation Inventiveness Sense of Wonder and Curiosity Engagement 15

Promoting an integrated approach through a 5-step teaching protocol • The 5-step teaching protocol is developed based on children’s learning cycle. • It helps teachers plan experiences that cater to children’s interest and allow children to experience the full learning cycle. • It helps children make connections between previous learning, new learning and extended learning. 16

An illustration of the 5-step teaching protocol Connect to Build on Curiosity Extend Reflect on New Learning Tap children’s Learning Learning Help children natural curiosity Help children Engage Invite Interest make apply the skill in children in Ignite children’s connections Provide different reflection to interest between prior opportunities for contexts think back, knowledge and children to learn from it Tap children’s prior new learning explore and find and do it knowledge out more better Children start to make new connections and acquire Children become aware of Children start asking new skills that can be new things and develop an questions and make new applied to different interest to find out more discoveries situations 17

Invite Interest Helping children make connections between their prior knowledge/interest and new learning In prior activities, the children have been introduced to a 2-dimensional world map. In this activity, the children were presented a table globe and were asked to share their thoughts about the different coloured lands and the blue ocean. 18

Build on Curiosity Helping children make connections between their interests and new learning The children started asking questions about who lived in the different countries. A book titled “We Share One World” was read to them. The children discovered they share the world with people from other countries. 19

Connect to New Learning Helping children make connections between previous experiences and new learning Based on the children's prior experiences, the teacher elicited and recorded their responses using a KWL chart. According to what they wanted to find out, the children gathered information from a variety of sources and shared their findings with each other. 20

Extend Learning Helping children make connections between new learning and extended learning The children found out that the countries often have unique features/ characteristics (e.g. people, food, culture). They went on to find out more about the different countries they were interested in at the learning centres. 21

Reflect on Learning Helping children make connections between new learning and extended learning The children were invited to talk about what they have learnt about a selected country . This led to new questions for extended learning. 22

What have we observed? Through the 5-step teaching protocol, Children are: • motivated because learning is meaningful since it is related to their interests • able to make connections and apply knowledge & skills in different contexts Teachers are better able to plan learning experiences that help children make connections between • previous learning, new learning and extended learning • between their interests and new learning 23

Promoting an Integrated Approach to Teaching and Learning through an Inquiry Approach using Listening Pedagogy Ms Munia Ahmed Principal, EtonHouse Preschool Vanda

“ Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” John Dewey 25

Inquiry Approach to Teaching and Learning Inquiry is an approach to learning that involves a process of exploring the natural and material world that leads to asking questions , and making discoveries for new understanding. Best Teaching Practices - University of Akron 26