The purpose of this study is as follows. First, it provides the rationale for constructing an integrated curriculum for open education, which requires the readjustment of the existing curriculum but has to be adjusted to the developmental level and in...
The purpose of this study is as follows. First, it provides the rationale for constructing an integrated curriculum for open education, which requires the readjustment of the existing curriculum but has to be adjusted to the developmental level and interests of the children. Second, it provides the knowledge and technology for constructing the integrated curriculum for lower grades of the elementary school.
The results of this study are as follows. First, various types of the integrated curriculum have to be recognized: complete vs. partial integration, horizontal vs. vertical integration, multidisciplinary integration, interdisciplinary integration, extradisciplinary integration, structural vs. functional integration; furthermore, structural integration being further divided into quantitative integration and qualitative integration, and functional integration being further divided into internal integration and external integration.
Second, the type of integration recommended for open education at lower grades at the elementary school would be the theme-centered total integration, the extradisciplinary integration or the interdisciplinary integration, and the combined integration of the internal integration.
Third, the types of integration adopted in the sixth integrated curriculum for the elementary school is shown to be the partial integration incorporating the summed integration, the contributed integration, fused integration, and the combined integration, while one of the extradisciplinary integration, interdisciplinary integration, and multidisciplinary integration are adopted according to the integrated subject areas. And one or two of the experience centered, exploration-centered, and expression/activity-centered internal integration is emphasized according to the integrated subject areas.
Fourth, the following is recommended for designing the integrated open education curriculum at lower grades in the elementary school: (1) the theme-centered extradisciplinary or interdisciplinary integration is highly recommended, (2) the integrated curriculum is to be constructed, practiced, evaluated in terms of the choice of the themes., the development of the ideas and concepts, the construction of activity nets, the weekly planning, the daily planning, the construction of environments, the integrated curriculum design reflecting the teaching-learning activities and evaluation, etc.