The term itself, in modern parlance, is built from a host of a negative connotations starting with the integration movement following the segregation laws of early 20th century American history. To integrate means to bring together two otherwise separate entities in a meaningful fashion. At its core this is a good idea. Nothing in our universe exists in isolation, so to understand in a meaningful way how things fit together is a good thing. In terms of structured learning (i.e. the college classroom) this is even more important given that students have learned subjects largely in isolation for the 12 years plus of learning prior to taking their first college steps.
So, how do you do it?
To integrate in a college classroom means to take separate material and bridge that gap of understanding, possibly in the form of an assignment or a scaffolded assignment. Students want to know why it matters, with it being, well, whatever work they are being asked to complete. The association of American colleges and universities statement on integrative learning suggests, “Students face a rapidly-changing and ever-more-interconnected world, in which integrative learning becomes not just a benefit… but a necessity.” This is, as we say in the 6th world, chip truth. We have moved deeper into an information society where knowledge is on display and your ability to sift through and discern knowledge and how it works together is going to be key to any sort of learning.
This is how we stay ahead of the game as a society.