Integrated Curriculum Model
What does Integrated Curriculum Model mean?
The Integrated Curriculum Model (ICM) is an approach to teaching gifted students in a way that is sensitive to their needs. Integration acknowledges and builds on the relationships which exist among all things. An integrated curriculum implies learning that is synthesized across traditional subject areas and learning experiences that are designed to be mutually reinforcing. This approach develops the child’s ability to transfer their learning to other settings. The ICM features three integrated dimensions: Overarching Concepts, Advanced Content, and Process-Product.
The Integrated Curriculum Model (ICM) is an approach to teaching gifted students in a way that is sensitive to their needs. Integration acknowledges and builds on the relationships which exist among all things. An integrated curriculum implies learning that is synthesized across traditional subject areas and learning experiences that are designed to be mutually reinforcing. This approach develops the child’s ability to transfer their learning to other settings. The ICM features three integrated dimensions: Overarching Concepts, Advanced Content, and Process-Product.
Overarching Concepts: The idea of reading, reflecting, and allowing discussions to happen provides an opportunity for students to develop ideas, themes, and determine related concepts among various fields of study. The concepts associated with ICM are:
Advanced Content: This idea allows for gifted students to go below the surface of the content to experience a deeper understanding of the material. Typically, in a general education classroom, we are teaching surface content vs. deeper content. Advanced Content provides opportunities for students to use advanced skills and move through the curriculum in a more rapid and deeper pace.
Process-Product: This portion of the model allows students to explore an area of interest and conduct research that is relevant to the interest. Process-Product allows opportunities for problem-based learning experiences that is essential to gifted learning.
- Change
- Systems
- Patterns
- Cause and Effect
Advanced Content: This idea allows for gifted students to go below the surface of the content to experience a deeper understanding of the material. Typically, in a general education classroom, we are teaching surface content vs. deeper content. Advanced Content provides opportunities for students to use advanced skills and move through the curriculum in a more rapid and deeper pace.
Process-Product: This portion of the model allows students to explore an area of interest and conduct research that is relevant to the interest. Process-Product allows opportunities for problem-based learning experiences that is essential to gifted learning.
What does ICM look like in action?
Content-Based Curriculum for High-Ability Learners, by Joyce Van Tassel-Baska
School of Education, William and Mary
Virginia Tech
School of Education, William and Mary
Virginia Tech
VanTassel-Baska, J. (2003). Content-based curriculum for high-ability learners: An introduction. In J. VanTassel-Baska & C. A. Little (Eds.), Content-based curriculum for high-ability learners (pp. 1-23). Waco, TX: Prufrock Press.