7 - Interdisciplinary Connections

My Interdisciplinary Connections

Interdisciplinary connection goals for 2017

Humanities unit - Volcanic landscapes are challenging, requiring societies to interact and adapt to the natural world.

The potential interdisciplinary connections across the curriculum is English, Maori Science.

English – Myths and legends, understanding the connections between myths and legends and the natural environment. How stories are past down to explain natural creation.

Maori – Stories about volcanoes in Maori, learning Te Reo and understanding our cultural heritage.

Science – The physical world, landscapes and rock types provide information on the past, present and future.

Collaboration

These interdisciplinary connections would be taught as an interdisciplinary unit. This would mean that it would be taught during the same term and a unit plan would be created. 

I teach Humanities and English. My team and I would meet with the other subject teachers to discuss what this may look like and what the requirements are for each subject area. 

International Baccalaureate has 4 criteria, we would need to discuss these and decide what each subject would cover. This is an important discuss in the joint-planning and would need to take place before, during and after the term's learning. 

This interdisciplinary unit would take time and would not necessary be perfect in the first year. Continuous feedback, planning and discussions would take place.  

A possible option for this interdisciplinary unit would be to include subjects over a period and gradually increase each year. For example, in the first year it may only be Humanities and Science which are connected. This would mean a strong foundation would be built and understanding of the interdisciplinary unit. 

Benefits

There are many benefits to an interdisciplinary unit and making connections across the curriculum. One is to help students to see outside of the subject itself and understanding the learning through many lenses. This gives students a more holistic learning experience and a wider understanding and perspective. Students are learning outwards rather than upwards. 

With the holistic approach of learning students would experience other connections outside of the subjects and can explore these ideas also. There is unlimited learning that can take place with interdisciplinary connections.

Challenges

It is a big change for subject teachers as there is more planning and collaborate involved across a range of subject areas. Also, using a unit across all subjects areas would be a change that requires support for all teachers. 

The students would be quick to adapt to the approach but would need to understanding the reasons behind an interdisciplinary unit and change their thinking to a more holistic approach. 

References

Mathison,S.. & Freeman, M.(1997). The logic of interdisciplinary studies. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, 1997. Retrieved from http://www.albany.edu/cela/reports/mathisonlogic12004.pdf:

Ross Institute. (2015, July 5). Ross Spiral Curriculum: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Science. [video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHZhkB0FJik

ThomasMcDonaghGroup. ( 2011, May 13). Interdisciplinarity and Innovation Education.[video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDdNzftkIpA