This book focuses on constructivist theory and collaborative interdisciplinary studies, showing how constructivist theory complements interdisciplinary studies. Constructivist theory stresses how learners construct new ideas and concepts, while the interdisciplinary method requires that learners approach complex problems from multiple perspectives. The author uses the New York City College of Technology as a model to demonstrate how learning can be embedded in complex, realistic, and relevant environments. As a result, students learn to consider significant issues from a variety of viewpoints and thus negotiate their social landscape. In approaching problems that they recognize as meaningful, they take ownership of their learning and become increasingly self-aware. This scholarly book makes a theoretical contribution to its field while also offering a practical, real world example of how to successfully integrate a curriculum.
1. A Study of Integration: The Role of Sensus Communis in Integrating Disciplinary Knowledge
Laureen Park
2. Insatiability and Crisis: Using Interdisciplinarity to Understand (and Denaturalize) Contemporary Humans
Sean P. MacDonald and Costas Panayotakis
3. Inducing Application of Interdisciplinary Frameworks: Experiences from the Domains of Information Literacy and Responsible Conduct of Research
Anne E. Leonard and Jean E. Hillstrom
4. Making Connections: Writing Stories and Writing Code
Reneta D. Lansiquot and Candido Cabo
5. Authenticating Interdisciplinary Learning Through a Geoscience Undergraduate Research Experience
Reginald A. BlãÉ