Integrated EDUCATIONAL Approaches

 Year 2025 | Vol XVI | Issue No. 1 (August – November 2025)

Author: Archana Srivastava

Abstract

Integrated education combines multiple subjects, methods, and perspectives to create a holistic learning environment. This approach enhances critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills, connecting students to the real world.

Introduction

Integrated educational approaches mean combining multiple subjects, methods, and perspectives. As in 21st Century skills, we talk about the HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT of students. Integrated education aims to create a Holistic & Effective learning environment for students. One of the words which we use for such integration is PHYGITAL, which is a fusion of physical and digital classroom.

The objective of Integrated education is:

• To enhance various skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
• To connect the students with the real world. Taking students on a virtual tour while teaching some topics in science, like the human digestive system, flora and fauna, the Solar system, etc.
• It makes the learning more meaningful, interesting & at the same time engaging. For example, while teaching the structure of an atom or light, the use the phET simulation makes the teaching & learning process interesting and increases retention skills.

A few examples of Integrated teaching are:

1. FLIPPED CLASSROOM: This is the best teaching method that involves the active participation of students to experience scientific concepts rather than just having an audience view.
2. ART INTEGRATION: It makes concepts experiential and engaging, supporting diverse learning styles, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, helping students connect abstract ideas to real-world experiences while building essential 21st-century skills.
3. ROLE PLAY: This innovative method is becoming an integral part of science education as students can intellectually and physically engage through activities while learning a new concept. This method will provide students with an opportunity for deeper thinking. It also offers them a chance to get highly involved
4. SPORTS-BASED LEARNING: This is an interesting approach to learn problem-solving in physics or a stepwise method to study complex chemical reactions.
5. TEXT CARDS: This is an innovative teaching method to convey the science facts in an easy and organized way. In this activity, statements related to science concepts are written on index cards. Students can work individually, in pairs, or in groups to sort the cards based on the given format. The formats include true/false, agree/disagree, matching pairs, classification, sequencing, and more.
6. VISUAL CLUES: It includes HYPOTHESIS DRAWING. Ask the children to draw the diagram by giving clues.
7. GRAPHIC ORGANIZER: This teaching approach is helpful for students to interact with science in a more organized and structured way. Teachers can use different types of templates to represent the data according to the topic that is being handled.
8. EDUCATIONAL TOUR: Take the students to informal settings to find answers and then go back to the classrooms to discuss and share the findings. This helps them to experience everything on their own.
9. CT-ENABLED LEARNING:  ICT refers to The use of Information and Communications Technology to teach scientific ideas that promote open-source learning.
10. PROJECTS: This can be an individual activity or a group activity, which helps students to showcase the application side of what they learnt through theory.

Conclusion

To conclude, integrated educational approaches have revolutionized the way we teach and learn science. By combining multiple subjects, methods, and perspectives, we create a holistic and effective learning environment that enhances critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills. The fusion of physical and digital classrooms (Phygital) has made learning more meaningful, interesting, and engaging.

REFERENCES

• https://www.euroschoolindia.com/blogs/understanding-integrated-curriculum/
• https://www.asianage.com/in-focus/what-is-integrated-learning-and-how-it-benefits-students- 1842078
• Google.com
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrative_learning

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Archana Shrivastava, is a distinguished educator with expertise in academic curriculum development and a Master’s degree in Zoology, she is a key faculty member at Sunbeam School in Varanasi Uttar Pradesh.