Course-5 Understanding Disciplines and School Subjects pmd

Role of teachers in promoting interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary
learning:
•
Teachers must design and implement curriculum based on the scope and
sequence of the integrated disciplines and be flexible enough to form and revise
the curriculum according to the students’ needs.
•
Teachers must choose appropriate topics that offer scope to indulge in
interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary learning. While planning for the year,
teachers teaching a particular class could look out for common topics that can
be dealt with through interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary approaches. Various
learning approaches and techniques can be incorporated to facilitate
interdisciplinary learning. Most curricula these days incorporate project based
learning. This is a good opportunity to plan for interdisciplinary learning. Provide
a range of curriculum experiences that reflect both a discipline-based and an
interdisciplinary orientation. A basic grounding in disciplines needs to be
followed up with interdisciplinary studies.
•
By attending seminars and workshops of other disciplines a teacher can widen
his/her understanding of these disciplines. This will help to think beyond the
realms of one’s basic discipline.
•
Undertaking interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research will ensure that
the teacher thinks across disciplines. This will help to provide better guidance
to students when working towards interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary
learning.
•
Simply planning for interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary learning is not
enough. Teachers must engage students in epistemological questions such as
“What is knowledge?” “What do we know?” and “How can we link knowledge
with real world application?” Constructivist approach (where students explore
and take responsibility for their own learning)will be effective in interdisciplinary
learning.
•
Teachers can invite experts beyond the field of academics to provide their inputs
on the topic being explored. For example when dealing with the theme of
‘Pollution’ experts such as officers from the Pollution Control Board, doctors
and environmentalists can be invited to interact with the students.
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