I should clarify my reasons for researching in depth VanTassel Baska's Integrated Curriculum Model. I have for many years been following the research of Mirca Gross who is now director of GERRIC. Gross is fiercely supportive of exceleration and specialised classes for academically gifted students. But eight years since I began reading Gross's work, little has been done for most academically students and certainly to my knowledge in classrooms little has been done for creatively gifted students. The Integrated Curriculum model is a model that can work in a conservative and often stubborn environment that is the primary and secondary school system. I was interested to know whether or not this method could be applied by a classroom teacher within the constraints of curriculum reform and existing guidelines. It looks promising.
As a teacher it also looks like a method that would benefit all classroom students and thus support the move toward a fully implemented inclusive schools program. The Integrated Curriculum Model is certainly one I am eager to experiment with myself to gain first hand knowledge to its success within a classroom in the ACT. I would like to continue to research any other adaptions of this method within inclusive classrooms.
I have particular interest in its ability to teach creativity and higher order thinking.
Hopefully there is more to uncover.
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