Curriculum for Excellence and Interdisciplinary Learning

This paper examines the recommendations contained in Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) aimed at encouraging the integration of knowledge, skills and understanding across different areas of the curriculum. It first outlines what is said in the official CfE documentation and supporting materials produced by Education Scotland, noting the absence of references to earlier work on curriculum integration and interdisciplinarity. The sections that follow focus on four issues that are critical for the coherence and success of attempts to promote interdisciplinary work: the way in which interdisciplinarity is conceptualised; ensuring that cross-curricular connections are convincing and intellectually challenging; devising pedagogic strategies that are effective; and addressing operational obstacles to interdisciplinary work. The paper ends by posing a series of questions that need to be considered if the aims of interdisciplinary learning are to be achieved. It is suggested that, at present, these aims are well-intentioned but rather ill-defined.