Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Interdisciplinary approach in education; Learning, Psychology of; Interdisciplinary approach in education; Learning, Psychology of; Academic theses;
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine how integrative curriculum experiences influenced fifth grade students' perceptions of learning. An integrated curriculum for fifth grade students, based on a thematic unit of study, was written and implemented by the researcher and took place in a small, urban community in Northeast Iowa. The theme of Flight was used to integrate all subjects and taught for approximately four weeks. The researcher acted as participant/observer and documented how integrated curricular experiences influenced students' perceptions of learning in a classroom that had been primarily subject-centered. The data for this study was compiled from observations, interviews, and documents which sought student voices to determine if an integrated curriculum influenced their perceptions of learning. A survey was sent to the parents of students participating in the study. Information regarding the students' perceptions of learning as demonstrated in their home environment was communicated in the survey. An analysis of the data was compiled using a process of organizing insights, hunches, and reflections into a preliminary set of emerging themes. From this analysis, six themes were identified and served to categorize the existing data for this study. Based upon the results of this study, five generalizations pertaining to the students' perceptions of learning using an integrative curriculum were identified. They are as follows: 1. Students' attitudes about learning were positive. 2. A positive relationship existed linking student learning preferences to an integrated curriculum. 3. Students felt that an integrated curriculum improved their thinking skills and clarified their learning. 4. Students felt they applied what they had learned at school to more situations outside of school. 5. Students' retention of what they had learned was shown in assessment strategies that reflected creativity, elaboration, and detail.
Year of Submission
1997
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Education
Department
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
First Advisor
Donna H. Schumacher
Second Advisor
Marvin Heller
Third Advisor
Sharon Smaldino
Date Original
1997
Object Description
1 PDF file (99 leaves)
Copyright
©1997 Sheryl Jean Hoffman
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Hoffman, Sheryl Jean, "The Influences of Curriculum Integration on Students’ Perceptions of Learning" (1997). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2970.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2970
Comments
If you are the rightful copyright holder of this thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.