This week's Mindlab task was to consider our current and potential interdisciplinary connections and then critically discuss the benefits and challenges of interdisciplinary practice in relation to an identified area.
I have shared my thoughts in a video and have considered the potential benefits and challenges that Communities of Learning may face.
While completing this weeks Mindlab tasks and viewing a video about the 'Ross Spiral Curriculum' I was reminded of a documentary that I saw at Ulearn16 'Most Likely to Succeed'. The documentary focused on a school in America, 'High Tech High', whose curriculum is built on interdisciplinary studies that involve team work and are linked to the real word. I was blown away by how heavily invested each student was in their learning. They were passionate and engaged.
It is a documentary that all educators, parents and policy maker should see, as it challenges the audience to consider what sort of educational environment is most likely to help students succeed in the 21st century.
References
Ross Institute. (2015, July 5). Ross Spiral Curriculum: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Science. [video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHZhkB0FJik
Hi Steph,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a huge range of options for interdisciplinary connections. I'm really interested in your idea of working across schools. I hadn't really considered that as an option. I teach in a secondary school and had considered working cross-curricular within the school, or with other secondary schools, but now you have given me much more food for thought!
The documentary you mention, I remember seeing in Christchurch a couple of years ago. It was a very valuable watch and, like you I was amazed at how invested the student's were in their learning and their own pathway. I distinctly remember how one teacher designed his classroom so that all students had a voice, but the way that he introduced the concept formed the first lesson in teaching them that they did in fact have a voice to share. I also remember a student that they followed who showed huge levels of perseverance, and while his individual project didn't work out as planned, he learnt such a huge amount about himself and his work habits and skill set. Very good documentary, like you I recommend it!