Interdisciplinary Learning Support Material
Interdisciplinary Learning Exemplar: Kersland CSI Project
Context:
Kersland School in Paisley, Renfrewshire provides education for children and young people aged 5 – 18
who have severe learning difficulties. Staff provide highly individualised learning experiences through
the delivery of a curriculum that is appropriate to each pupil’s stage of development.
The popular television programme ‘Crime Scene Investigation’ provided the context for Kersland’s
whole school interdisciplinary learning approach. The children and young people were engaged from
the outset of the project. One morning, they were met at the school door by two Strathclyde police
officers who were investigating a major theft – the Headteacher’s tiara!
The children and young people worked together to find out who the culprit was.
Over the next eight weeks a further series of crimes were committed in each class. By using and
developing their knowledge and skills in science and expressive arts the children and young people
worked collaboratively to solve these crimes.
Making the connections across learning
The major curriculum foci for this whole school study were Science and Expressive arts. Building on
previous experiences of planning and delivering interdisciplinary learning, staff worked collaboratively
to develop and create ‘derived experiences and outcomes’ based on Curriculum for Excellence
Experiences and Outcomes (Generally, but not always, Early and First Levels) to suit the skills and
abilities of the pupils and to ensure progression throughout the school. These also supported the
planning process.
Learning and Teaching: interdisciplinary links
Co-operative Learning
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Interdisciplinary Learning Support Material
Partnership working
Points to consider:
Points
Theretois consider
a whole school approach to interdisciplinary learning. To ensure continuity ad progression staff
have agreed a 3 year cycle for managing the experiences and outcomes across the curriculum. This allows
for over learning in a variety of contexts over a number of years and facilitates tracking of learning and skill
development. All staff in school have a clear understanding of the balance between the 4 contexts for
learning. It should be stressed that there is clear direction in school policy regarding learning within the
disciplines, the ethos and life of the school and through personal achievement.
Planning includes a clear focus on experiences and outcomes. Staff are developing a clear understanding of
sharing learning intentions and writing appropriate success criteria for their learners based on their
understanding of the Es and Os.
All staff made sure that the principles of Building the Curriculum 3 were embedded in planned teaching and
learning. Care was taken to consider a broad general education that supported all learners in developing
skills for learning, life and work.
Teaching staff were clear that pupils must have a sound understanding of what they were being asked to
do during each task and what success for them would look like. Pupils were encouraged to demonstrate
what they could do and from the very early stages were involved in self and peer assessment.
Next steps
The school continues to focus on ‘exploring’ the experiences and outcomes and what they mean for their
learners.
Using and applying Larning Intentions and success criteria as par f the assessment process will be a further
area for development
The whole school community will continue to work on developing peer and self evaluation.
Build on and further develop parental involvement
This study links to the interdisciplinary guidance through exemplifying the following
characteristics:
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Interdisciplinary Learning Support Material
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having a clear focus on a small number of different curriculum areas/aspects of a curriculum area or
subjects.
focusing on a few carefully selected and relevant experiences and outcomes
choosing a theme or problem which requires knowledge and skills from different curriculum areas,
aspects of curriculum areas or subjects
responding to a significant event
Useful links
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