Interdisciplinary Learning in K-12 Humanities and Its Outcomes

Abstract

This paper introduces a novel assessment tool designed to measure Interdisciplinary Competencies within K-12 Humanities Education, emphasizing Interdisciplinary Learning (IL-Humanities). The tool's conceptual framework posits that IL-Humanities has a dual capacity to facilitate cross-disciplinary knowledge building and transdisciplinary identity work among students. We operationalize these concepts into three key competencies: comprehension, integration, and synthesis, each demonstrated through diverse actions. We used the Interdisciplinary Competences Assessment (ICA) to evaluate the effectiveness of IL-Humanities units designed by teachers in ten Israeli middle schools, using a quasi-experimental pre-post intervention/comparison design. While IL-Humanities units positively influenced learners' interdisciplinary competencies, our findings indicate these competencies require further development for optimal impact.