Skip to main content

Interdisciplinary teaching and learning at the K-12 level in the humanities, arts, and social sciences: A scoping review

 

Learning at the K-12 Level in the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences: A Scoping Review

Introduction

Interdisciplinary teaching has gained traction in K-12 education as a way to create deeper learning experiences for students. The integration of the humanities, arts, and social sciences (HASS) fosters critical thinking, creativity, and a holistic understanding of complex issues. This scoping review examines key themes, benefits, challenges, and best practices in interdisciplinary education at the K-12 level.

Defining Interdisciplinary Teaching in HASS

Interdisciplinary teaching involves blending knowledge and methods from multiple disciplines to create a more cohesive and integrated learning experience. In K-12 education, interdisciplinary approaches in the humanities, arts, and social sciences often include project-based learning, thematic instruction, and collaborative teaching models.

Benefits of Interdisciplinary Learning

  1. Enhanced Critical Thinking – Students learn to analyze issues from multiple perspectives, improving their problem-solving skills.

  2. Increased Engagement – Learning becomes more relevant and meaningful when students see connections between different subjects.

  3. Creativity and Innovation – The integration of arts and humanities fosters creative expression and innovative thinking.

  4. Cultural Awareness – Exposure to diverse perspectives promotes empathy and a deeper understanding of global issues.

  5. Improved Retention – Connecting ideas across disciplines helps reinforce learning and long-term knowledge retention.

Challenges in Implementing Interdisciplinary Teaching

Despite its benefits, interdisciplinary teaching faces several challenges:

  • Curriculum Constraints – Standardized testing and rigid curriculum structures can make interdisciplinary approaches difficult to implement.

  • Teacher Training – Many educators are trained in single-subject disciplines and may require additional professional development to effectively integrate multiple fields.

  • Time and Resource Limitations – Designing interdisciplinary units requires collaboration, planning, and resources that may not always be available.

  • Assessment Difficulties – Measuring student progress in an interdisciplinary framework requires alternative assessment methods that are not always well-established.

Best Practices for Effective Interdisciplinary Teaching

  1. Collaborative Planning – Teachers from different disciplines should work together to design integrated lesson plans that align with learning objectives.

  2. Project-Based Learning – Encouraging students to engage in hands-on projects that combine elements of HASS disciplines fosters deeper understanding.

  3. Thematic Units – Organizing curriculum around central themes, such as social justice, environmental sustainability, or cultural heritage, helps create meaningful connections across subjects.

  4. Technology Integration – Digital tools, virtual simulations, and multimedia resources can enhance interdisciplinary learning experiences.

  5. Flexible Assessment Methods – Using portfolios, presentations, and student reflections allows for a more comprehensive evaluation of interdisciplinary learning outcomes.

Conclusion

Interdisciplinary teaching in the humanities, arts, and social sciences at the K-12 level has the potential to transform education by making learning more engaging, meaningful, and applicable to real-world issues. While challenges exist, adopting best practices and fostering collaboration among educators can help overcome barriers and enhance the effectiveness of interdisciplinary education. Schools and policymakers should continue to support and invest in innovative approaches that prepare students for the complexities of the modern world.

29th Edition of International Research Awards on Science, Health and Engineering | 26-27 February 2025 | London, United Kingdom


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wiggling worms suggest link between vitamin B12 and Alzheimer’s

Worms don’t wiggle when they have Alzheimer’s disease. Yet something helped worms with the disease hold onto their wiggle in Professor Jessica Tanis’s lab at the University of Delaware. In solving the mystery, Tanis and her team have yielded new clues into the potential impact of diet on Alzheimer’s, the dreaded degenerative brain disease afflicting more than 6 million Americans. A few years ago, Tanis and her team began investigating factors affecting the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. They were doing genetic research with  C. elegans , a tiny soil-dwelling worm that is the subject of numerous studies. Expression of amyloid beta, a toxic protein implicated in Alzheimer’s disease, paralyzes worms within 36 hours after they reach adulthood. While the worms in one petri dish in Tanis’s lab were rendered completely immobile, the worms of the same age in the adjacent petri dish still had their wiggle, documented as “body bends,” by the scientists. “It was an observa...
Post a Comment
Read more

‘Massive-scale mobilization’ necessary for addressing climate change, scientists say

A year after a global coalition of more than 11,000 scientists declared a climate emergency, Oregon State University researchers who initiated the declaration released an update today that points to a handful of hopeful signs, but shares continued alarm regarding an overall lack of progress in addressing climate risks. “Young people in more than 3,500 locations around the world have organized to push for urgent action,” said Oregon State University’s William Ripple, who co-authored “The Climate Emergency: 2020 in Review,” published today in Scientific American. “And the Black Lives Matter movement has elevated social injustice and equality to the top of our consciousness. “Rapid progress in each of the climate action steps we outline is possible if framed from the outset in the context of climate justice – climate change is a deeply moral issue. We desperately need those who face the most severe climate risks to help shape the response.” One year ago, Ripple, distinguished profess...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ancient Shell Sounds

Abandoned at the mouth of your shelter you quivered apprehensively at our approach, crying out to be held as we proclaimed the exception of your discovery. Sighing wearily as we consigned you to the dusty silence of our archives. But now When I hold you in my hands, I see the face of your purposefully speckled complexion. When I lift you to my ear, I hear the sound of an ancient sea lapping at your shores. When I place you at my lips, I feel the heartbeat of your creator pulsing to my breath. I close my eyes, as you call out to all that you have lost. The shell that was recovered from the Marsoulas cave in the Pyrenees of France (Image Credit: C. Fritz, MusĆ©um d’Histoire naturelle de Toulouse). This poem is inspired by recent research , which has discovered that a large seashell that sat in a French museum for decades is actually a musical instrument used around 18,000 years ago. In 1931, researchers working in southern France unearthed a large seashell at the entr...
Post a Comment
Read more