Development and Implementation of an Integrated Mathematics/Science Preservice Elementary Methods Course

Abstract

If integration of mathematics and science is to occur, teacher preparation programs at colleges and universities must provide leadership in developing and modeling methods of teaching integrated content. This paper describes the development and implementation of an integrated mathematics/science preservice elementary methods course at the University of Connecticut. In planning the course several questions were addressed: (a) What does integration of mathematics and science mean? (b) What content should be taught in an integrated mathematics/science (IM/S) elementary methods course? and (c) How should an IM/S elementary methods course be taught? An important element of the course involved enlisting an exemplary elementary teacher who was released from her classroom one day per week to co‐teach the methods class. Establishing a definition of integration proved to be one of the most challenging aspects of course development. The authors determined that most difficulties in integration of disciplines result from attempts to “force” the integration. As the team struggled with the philosophical, theoretical and logistical problems in the development of the course, it became apparent why integration has not been more widely implemented. It is believed this model can be adapted to allow for integration of all content areas. Plans are currently underway to incorporate social studies into the methods class for Fall of 1993.