Walking the Integration Talk: An ArtSci Project

Abstract

As teacher educators, we help prepare elementary generalist teacher-candidates (TCs) for traditional classrooms. In those classrooms, subjects are often taught in isolation rather than as integrated concepts and this practice is reflected in the program at the university where we teach art and science education. Because the world is multidimensional, interconnected, and complex, we created a project that integrates art and science learning as a way to prepare future teachers to provide relevant educational experiences for their students. Data, in the form of reflection papers prepared by the TCs, were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Emergent topics resulted in four propositions that summarize the findings. They all speak to the value of an integrated education experience for TCs. This experience provides different opportunities for learning, offers cognitive “disruption”, enables TCs to articulate pedagogy of integration, and can impact practice and program positively. In addition, three elements essential to an integration project at the tertiary level are identified.

Keywords

• art education
• science education
• integration
• grounded theory
• teacher education