Design and Implementation of the Interdisciplinary Class based on I4MAT model focusing on learners’ interaction

Objectives In the interdisciplinary education, the cooperative interaction between learners is important to derive a comprehensive understanding by synthesizing knowledge from a wide range of academic fields. In this study, an interdisciplinary class was designed based on the I4MAT model focusing on learners’ interaction proposed by Kim, Yoon & Bang(2021), and implemented to explore the educational effects. Methods To this end, we first analyzed and reorganized the learning elements of elementary school science, social studies, and morals curriculum to select a interdisciplinary theme that became the center of class design. For the selected theme, learning activities and contents were designed by the categories of the model, and learners’ interaction activities, interaction competencies. Then the teaching strategies were specified. After applying teaching program to 83 elementary school pre-service teachers enrolled in an university of education located in a non-metropolitan area, the change in competencies was explored. Results The Interdisciplinary class was designed based on the I4MAT model focusing on learners’ interaction using two themes: plastic use and wildfire response. As the results of the implementation, the interaction competency and interdisciplinary thinking competency of pre-service teachers were significantly improved. Conclusions Based on the results, educational implications for the design and implementation of interdisciplinary education focused learners’ interaction were discussed.