Fusion Pedagogy: A Case Study in Writing Across the Curriculum

1. Fusion Pedagogy: A Case Study in Writing Across the Curriculum By Dr. Mark Mraz & Dr. John Hicks

2. The Fusion Approach • The fusion approach offers a bridge between two distinct disciplines in academic subjects: English and Social Studies. • The Cross-disciplinary nature of the method leads to a dynamic didactic pedagogy that serves to better educate and enlighten the student in the complexities of the 21st century.

3. History of Fusion Pedagogy • As early as 1962, and since, scholars of social studies, notably Leonard Kenworthy subscribed to the fusion notion. • In 1991, several state departments of education recommended literature-based social studies, in particular, the California Department of Education • Dynneson, Gross and Berson (2007) discuss a “fusion approach” to curriculum organization in which “two or more disciplines, although remaining separate entities, are welded together to form a new course

4. Jerome Bruner: The Process of Education • The Structure of the Discipline

5. Henry Giroux: Border Crossings • Border Crossings-the world is so complex it cannot be understood by one discipline.

6. Common Core Curriculum • Attempt to teach literacy in all academic subjects

7. Allentown School District could ax 6th grade social studies classes • Combining social studies with English would free up more time to learn math. C. Russell Mayo, Ed. D., Allentown School District superintendent

8. Sample Projects • Case Study: The Novels of Michael Crichton •  Case Study: Benjamin Franklin •  Case Study: Holocaust Studies •  Case Study: Exploring Pennsylvania • Case Study: How Football Explores America

9. Writing Assignments • Lesson Plans • Handouts • Readings • Assessments