Module: Integration across the Curriculum

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Integration across the Curriculum
Module Code	EDP1140
Faculty	Policy & Professional Practice	School	DCU Institute of Education
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	7.5

Description

This module provides student teachers with opportunities to develop their knowledge, confidence and expertise in interrogating integrated teaching models, approaches and pedagogies in the curriculum areas of Arts, SEE, STEM, and Well-being. The module consists of two distinct but connected strands where student teachers explore integration as it pertains to (i) learners in stage 1 and 2 and (ii) learners in stage 3 and 4 of the primary school curriculum across the broad curriculum areas. Students will engage in a combination of lectures, workshops, online activities and independent study across the areas: STEM Education, SEE Education, Wellbeing, Arts Education

Learning Outcomes

1. Consolidate understanding of foundational roots of an integrated curriculum in early childhood and primary education contexts through revisiting educational theories studied in various modules of the BEd programme in years 1, 2 and 3 and their application in the primary classroom.
2. Interpret the Primary School Curriculum stance on integration and critically evaluate stage-appropriate pedagogies in the teaching and learning of curriculum areas (Arts, SEE, STEM, and Well-being).
3. Identify and critique key theories, modes and models of integrated learning, teaching and assessment with a view to understanding both its benefits and challenges.
4. Appreciate diverse starting points for integration such as the use of the locality, dialogic, enquiry-based, play-based learning, arts integration or other subject areas, frameworks, models or abstract concepts
5. Identify and evaluate various approaches to planning integrated learning teaching and assessment experiences for children that cohere with the Primary School Curriculum and Aistear, including consideration of the integration of the Primary School Curriculum with the themes and principles of Aistear, where appropriate
6. Research and evaluate resources to plan and develop culturally responsive, inclusive and creative integrated learning, teaching and assessment experiences that balance child-led and teacher-directed learning in authentic and meaningful contexts

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	10	Presentation of integrated approaches and pedagogies to plan for integrated learning experiences and theoretical models, frameworks, starting points and abstract concepts for stage 1-2 and stage 3-4 primary school classes
Workshop	8	Presentation of integrated approaches to planning learning experiences in infants. Exploration of resources and develop plans of integrated work for teaching in stage 1 -2.
Workshop	8	Presentation of integrated approaches to planning learning experiences for senior primary. Exploration of resources and develop plans of integrated work for teaching in stage 3-4 classes.
Fieldwork	4	Working in small groups towards the research, identification and illustration of a model to support comprehensive subject integration for stage 3-4 classes.
Online activity	18	Engage with asynchronous (H5P) material and activities on integrated learning, teaching and assessment.
Independent Study	30	Engage with a variety of literature and resources to prepare for stage 1 & 2 teaching and learning lectures, workshops and online activities and assessment tasks.
Independent Study	30	Engage with a variety of literature and resources to prepare for stage 3 & 4 teaching and learning lectures, workshops and online activities and assessment tasks.
Assignment Completion	79.5	Group assignment involving addressing integration for stages 3 and 4
Total Workload: 187.5

Section Breakdown
CRN	21259	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Siun Nic Mhuiri	Module Teacher	Benjamin Mallon, Catherine Furlong, Fiona Giblin, Frances Murphy, Joe Usher, Lisa Clarke, Michael Flannery, Peter Whelan, Regina Murphy, Therese Farrell

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Participation	Engagement in lectures to support integrated teaching and learning in primary.	20%	n/a
Participation	Completion of group/paired tasks in workshops and lecture to support integrated teaching and learning in stage 1-2 of primary.	20%	n/a
Completion of online activity	Completion of independent assessment tasks as part of asynchronous activities to support integrated teaching and learning in stage 1-2 classes of primary.	20%	n/a
Group project	Group assignment addressing integration for stages 3 and 4.	40%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Overview
This module provides student teachers with opportunities to develop their knowledge, confidence and expertise in interrogating integrated teaching models, approaches and pedagogies in the curriculum areas of Arts, SEE, STEM, and Well-being. The module consists of two distinct but connected strands where student teachers explore integration as it pertains to (i) learners in stage 1 and 2 and (ii) learners in stage 3 and 4 of the primary school curriculum across the broad curriculum areas. Students will engage in a combination of lectures, workshops, online activities and independent study across the areas: STEM Education, SEE Education, Wellbeing, Arts Education

Resources
See Loop for up-to-date readings including book chapters and articles as well as other resources (e.g., digital sources and high-quality lesson ideas)

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None