Jiwon Kim, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and Sandra Zak, Ph.D., lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, recently published a co-edited book, “Interdisciplinary Teaching and Teacher Education: Developing Teacher Competencies for Interdisciplinary Instruction” (Rowman & Littlefield, 2024). Additional chapter contributions were made by Curriculum and Instruction faculty Serbay Zambak, Ph.D., associate professor, and Christine Grabowski, adjunct, as well as Mark Pearcy, Ph.D., Rider University, and Hank Bitten, M.Ed., executive director of NJ Council for the Social Studies.
Through theories and in the current context of schools and curriculum needs, this book introduces interdisciplinary education to teachers and teacher candidates, with examples of the method at the elementary and secondary levels in the form of classroom practice and university teacher education courses. As one of the examples, this book highlights Monmouth University’s Interdisciplinary Studies for Elementary Educators (ISEE) program, showcasing the knowledge and teaching skills that teacher candidates gain from this major.
In his review of the book, Robert O’Dell, executive director of New Jersey Center for Civic Education, writes, “The editors have harnessed the expertise of established educators to create a compelling argument that effective interdisciplinary education is not only possible, but can be realized with the tools already available. Those wishing to move their district’s curriculum in this direction will find this a useful resource.”