Transdisciplinary Model in Middle School STEAM Team: A Case Study of Co-Teaching Practice

• In Event: Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: Designing Effective Learning Environments II

Abstract

Nine middle school teachers, from multiple disciplines, facilitated instruction over a school year using a STEAM approach that integrated Language Art into STEM education. Researchers observed teachers in 100+ classes proposed to be conducted using transdisciplinary co-teaching. Teachers incorporated flexible scheduling and used multiple types of educational spaces to engage students in mastering content and promoting 21st Century Skills. The flexible scheduling and use of space provided opportunities to apply different types of co-teaching. The study concluded the most frequently applied type of transdisciplinary instruction was reconstructed. It was noted that different formats of co-teaching were used to match different transdisciplinary instructional approaches. However, transdisciplinary co-teaching sometimes did not fit the definition of transdisciplinary model, especially in Math and Science.

Authors

• Yufei Wu, Syracuse University

• Jiaming Cheng, Syracuse University

• Tiffany A. Koszalka, Syracuse University