Towards Integrated Learning: An Experiment with Linked Classes

Abstract

Introduction:  As a result of a college sponsored National Endowment of the Humanities grant, we designed and taught in Spring 1998 a linked class curriculum for students in our English 102 (Introduction to Literature/ Freshman Composition), Philosophy 115 (Contemporary Moral Problems) and Sociology 102 (Introduction to Sociology) courses around the theme of Ethics. Although we did not share the same students, we approached this project as an interdisciplinary endeavor. We spent a great deal of time planning for three joint class sessions during the semester and identifying the linkages in our courses. We would like to describe our experience and explore its pedagogical implications. In spite of some logistical problems, we believe we succeeded in offering our students an enriched integrated learning environment.