Successful multiple pathway programs depend on curricula and instruction that challenge students to reach high academic standards through relevant and engaging content. They offer an "integrated curriculum" that connects challenging, college-preparatory material to career-based technical concepts and applications. Both the career-technical and academic courses focus lessons on a broad industry sector, such as Health Sciences and Medical Technology or Arts, Media and Entertainment.

This kind of curriculum demonstrates the relevance of academic subjects to practical applications and introduces students to exciting career fields. It is also a way to help students with diverse interests and learning styles master the complex content that California's high academic standards require in every classroom.

Part of ConnectEd's mission is to develop and promote integrated curriculum materials. To date, ConnectEd has produced:

• a manual for designing integrated curriculum, which can serve as a roadmap for teams of teachers interested in planning their own integrated curriculum. 
  
  
• a set of integrated, problem-based curriculum units developed in partnership with the National Consortium on Health Science and Technical Education and in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams of teachers at 12 high schools. 

Contact ConnectEd for more information on the full units as well as development of curriculum in other industry pathways.

What are the key principles behind these integrated curriculum units?

• The units are designed according to applied learning theory. They connect to students' lives, demonstrate the relevance of theoretical material through interesting, practical applications, and arouse students' curiosity by raising a challenging problem.
  
  
• Classroom lessons address state and national academic standards that lead to high school graduation and success in postsecondary education.
  
  
• Each integrated curriculum unit addresses technical knowledge and skill standards that have been validated by industry professionals.
  
  
• Students work on "essential questions" that require mastering challenging academic and technical content and applying teamwork, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.