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Reynolds (2012) defines Integrated studies as an approach that intertwines pedagogy, individual knowledge and understanding, skills, abilities, strengths and needs of individual students, values and attitudes, context, the learner and the overall learning in a unified manner. For example connecting science, technology, engineering, art and math curriculum content areas together (STEAM) and teaching this through presenting students a challenge/ problem and allowing them to solve the problem in groups over a lesson or lessons using their individual strengths and abilities.
There are diverse development models for and approaches to integrated studies (Murdoch, 1998), one example is a scope of curriculum integration is shown in the diagram below.

(Alberta education, 2007)

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What are some benefits of Integrated studies?

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What are some benefits of Integrated studies?

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In the 21st century society requires individuals to have problem solving skills, critical and analytical reasoning and thinking, creativity, be adaptable and to be able to collaborate, integrated learning encourages and nurtures these skills. Integrated learning supports students to acquire a deeper understanding of complex associations and encourages students to make connections between their learning and the real world (Murdoch, 1998).
Integrated learning promotes student motivation, collaborative learning and encourages students to enhance their outlook of oneself as a learner and as a valued member of society (Brady, 2014).

For further information please watch the video below.

(Integrated Curriculum, n.d. [video])

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The Integrated Curriculum

I remember learning in the classroom and being taught subjects in isolation. For example, I was only taught reading comprehension in reading class or math in only mathematics class but never in other subjects. I often wondered why some math concepts weren't taught in science since they somehow seemed to have a relationship. Has that ever happened to you?

Today, there is a focus on an integrated curriculum. An integrated curriculum is described as one that connects different areas of study by cutting across subject-matter lines and emphasizing unifying concepts. Integration focuses on making connections for students, allowing them to engage in relevant, meaningful activities that can be connected to real life. Can you imagine how an integrated curriculum can benefit your students? Understanding the benefits and how to effectively integrate curriculum can help teachers and students become more successful in the classroom.

Benefits

Do you wonder why it is important to integrate curriculum? Think about how much you could learn in a classroom where you learn math, science and reading all in one lesson or teaching a theme-based unit that focuses on cultural diversity and incorporates core content area topics. When I taught through an integrated curriculum, my students showed higher signs of retention at an increased rate than when an integrated curriculum was not implemented. The reason for this is because they were able to more closely relate to content and make real-world connections in integrated curriculum approaches.

Students not only connect and create more real world connections in integrated classrooms, but they are also more actively engaged. Creating an integrated curriculum means that teachers are charged with having to create challenging, fun, meaningful tasks that help students connect to information. Creating a solar system unit that also requires oral language development and practice, reading comprehension skills and mathematics, can engage students far more than just a lesson on the solar system alone. Integration helps to achieve retention and engagement in classrooms, which yields higher mastery of content standards.

One final key benefit of an integrated curriculum is the ability for students to see skills multiple times. Instead of teaching comprehension strategies in just reading, teaching those strategies across multiple disciplines can give students an opportunity to see and implement it more often. The repetition of the skills being taught creates a higher level of understanding and retention of information for students in the classroom.

Examples

Think about the idea of integration as either a multidisciplinary approach or an interdisciplinary approach. A multidisciplinary approach focuses primarily on the disciplines. Teachers who use this approach organize standards from the disciplines around a theme. In an interdisciplinary approach, teachers organize the curriculum around common learnings across disciplines. They chunk together the common learnings embedded in the disciplines to emphasize interdisciplinary skills and concepts.

To create multidisciplinary integrated curriculum, develop a central theme focused on social studies and teach history, geography, economics and government in that thematic based unit. You may also achieve this by creating a mathematics thematic unit that teachers the relationship between fractions, percents, decimals and ratios. This will help students make connections to many disciplines.

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benefits & examples - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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Integrated Curriculum: Definition, Benefits & Examples - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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I remember learning in the classroom and being taught subjects in isolation. For example, I was only taught reading comprehension in reading class or math in only mathematics class but never in other subjects. I often wondered why some math concepts weren't taught in science since they somehow seemed to have a relationship.

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What are some challenges and limitations of integrated studies?

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What are some challenges and limitations of integrated studies?

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Jones (2014) states that an integrated curriculum can cause confusion. As curricula across the disciplines are limited teachers are required to develop integrated curriculum's themselves (Gilbert, 2014), this can be overwhelming and time consuming for teachers (Jones, 2014).
Loepp (1999) identifies the following as possible professional challenges for teachers-
* changing their teaching method from didactic to constructivist
* knowledge of constructivist focused pedagogy
* subject knowledge
* being an active member of learning communities
* small group learning assistance skills
* developing skills in  experiential-oriented instruction
* skills in using authentic assessment strategies.

(Image], 2016)

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How does Integrated studies enhance and support the learning for ALL students

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How does Integrated studies enhance and support the learning for ALL students

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An integrated curriculum can be can be created for and  implemented with any age, ability and be used in various ways (ACARA, 2017). It creates a more relaxed classroom as pressure generated by strict timetables is reduced. It also supports students and teachers to acquire more proficient methods of gathering, organizing and processing information. An integrated curriculum can encourage students who do not understand information in a fragmented or compartmentalised approach to construct further knowledge and connections (Gilbert). By drawing from various learning area contents and from different levels learning and aligning individual learning goals personalised learning can be achieved (ACARA, 2017). As students learn in different ways using the inquiry based strategy allows students to work at their own pace and allows students to research and learn in their own individual ways. For example students may work on an inquiry based project from a question, where they are able to research using their individual strengths and interests (eg. taking photos, using technology, using booksdrawing)

(Education Concept, [Image], 2010. )

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To create and implement an integrated curriculum teachers need to reflect on and make decisions constructed on the objectives of curriculum, sources and knowledge of students. There are numerous prospects for curriculum integration across Australian curriculum subjects. When planning an integrated curriculum whether starting with the curriculum or with a topic/ question it is necessary to review curriculum documents to guarantee that students are given the opportunity to acquire the applicable concepts and skills required by education (Gilbert, 2014).

(Learning for a sustainable future [Image], n.d.)