- Integrating Knowledge is a course of study that provides intellectual tools to cope with the complexities of reality—tools which are
essential, but largely missing from the traditional curriculum.
- Integrating Knowledge is a complete general education course of study appropriate for use by adolescents and older students, for educators,
and for all others interested in the comprehensive study of reality.
- Integrating Knowledge may be used as a "stand alone" program, or as a framework to organize and integrate the traditional separate-subject
curriculum.
Integrating Knowledge is not available for direct purchase, but copies will be made available at cost (as .pdf files on CD-ROM) to qualified educators and others for evaluation and pilot use. Contact:
Marion Brady
4285 N. Indian River Drive
Cocoa , FL 32927
We focus on a framework of ideas that can organize all knowledge.
Hands-on activities deal with reality.
Students use a full range of skills to gather and process information.
Investigation: Commerce
Structure is important because it organizes information and helps us deal with complexity. If a store puts its products on shelves in random order,
finding something would be almost impossible. Quite naturally, similar products are grouped together.
The same principle applies to information. Random facts are extremely hard to remember, but if we can organize them into some kind of structure, remembering and using them is much easier. .
Step 1
Make a tree for the way products are organized in a typical supermarket.
Step 2
Nothing is perfect. If possible, go to your local supermarket and find problems with the way the store structures its products. If you have trouble finding an item, this may be a clue
to the problem.
Step 3
Most stores place certain products in ways that make you notice and buy things that you otherwise might not buy. Identify parts of the supermarket's product display structure that make
you slow down and notice or otherwise pay special attention.
Investigation: Meteorology
Beaufort Scale
Speed (Mph)
State
Visible Effects on Water & Land
0
<1
Calm
Water like mirror, smoke rises vertically
1
1-3
Light air
Small ripples on water, smoke drifts
2
4-7
Light breeze
Tiny waves, wind felt on face, leaves rustle
3
8-12
Gentle breeze
Some waves break, light flags extend
4
13-18
Moderate breeze
Whitecaps numerous, branches move
5
19-24
Fresh Breeze
Bigger waves, spray, small trees sway
6
25-31
Strong breeze
Whitecaps everywhere, whistling in wires
7
32-38
Moderate gale
White foam in streaks, whole trees move
8
39-46
Fresh gale
Some high waves, small branches broken
9
47-54
Strong gale
Poor visibility from foam and spray, slight roof damage
10
55-63
Whole gale
Trees broken or uprooted, building damage
11
64-72
Storm
Widespread damage to structures
12
>72
Hurricane
Violence and destruction
The table above illustrates part of a structure for organizing wind--one of the main parts of weather. The set of names given to parts of something to organize it is usually called a "taxonomy."
Processing Knowledge 1 - 25
An Essential Course of Study
for adolescents and others
Gives students a powerful framework for organizing knowledge
Requires the use of every known thought process
Adapts to every ability level and learning style
Is far less expensive than conventional textbooks
Spirals through constantly increasing levels of complexity
Easy to use and motivates students' desire to learn
Students are held accountable by completing "Investigations" and record-keeping in their "Journal"
Is maximally participatory, hands-on, student centered, experiential
Is constantly refined via user feedback
Is guaranteed as advertised or all monies refunded
