A Study On Heidi Hayes Jacobs's Theory Of Interdisciplinary Curriculum Integration

As one of the important representatives of curriculum integration,Heidi Hayes Jacobs' s theory about interdisciplinary curriculum integration is of great significance for educators to break boundaries of disciplines and construct an integrated curriculum system.Since the end of the 1950 s,American basic education curriculum reform was either based on “discipline-based” or “integration”.However,the curriculum reforms that showed the Pendulum Effect failed to solve the problem on the quality of American basic education.After perceiving the deep-rooted discipline-based education resulted in many problems,Jacobs turned to look for a way called curriculum integration,which can solve the problem discipline-based education brought with the promotion of “Excellence Movement”.In the late 1980 s,Jacobs initially formed her theory of interdisciplinary curriculum integration.Her masterwork contributed to the upsurge of curriculum integration research and practice.Since then,she constantly has improved and transformed her theory of curriculum integration to meet different needs.With the influence of Prof.Dewey,Prof.Phenix and Prof.Greene,Jacobs developed some basic assumptions.First,she valued the function of school education is to cultivate world citizens.Second,she insisted discipline-based and interdisciplinary perspective should coexist in curriculum design.Third,she claimed curriculum is a process of problem inquiry.Finally,she explained teachers and students' position in curriculum integration is equal.Based on the perspectives,Jacobs further put forward the design options,implementation and evaluation in curriculum integration.she proposed a progressive continuum based on the degree of organization including six design options,which offers a framework for schools to take action.Besides,she encouraged teachers look for the potential areas for integration by curriculum mapping.After finding the potential areas for integration,teachers and students can follow the four steps including organization centers choosing,brainstorming,problem setting and activity organizing to implement interdisciplinary curriculum.Teachers and students can both participate in the process of evaluation which is related to real situation.Jacobs' s theory of interdisciplinary curriculum integration transcends the binary opposition between “discipline-based” and “integration”,which is in line with the realistic situation.She also provides many practical suggestions and strategies for educators to try to achieve horizontal and vertical integration and solve problems in curriculum integration.However,there are still many practical problems in Jacobs' s theory of interdisciplinary curriculum integration that deserve further exploration.Therefore,educators need to be alert to the potential crisis that bring from technological orientation when learning and using her theory.