The nature of interdisciplinarity and its implications for the secondary school in Newfoundland

• Main Author: Chaulk, A. George
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1987
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/5205/; https://research.library.mun.ca/5205/1/Chaulk_AGeorge.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/5205/2/Chaulk_AGeorge.pdf

Education in the twentieth century has focused on an instrumental orientation that takes schools beyond the mere transmission of knowledge. A diversified education helps young people to cope with the phenomenal growth of knowledge and a plethora of social problems. Teaching methods and new subjects serve the needs of society and enhance students' ability to synthesize their fragmented educational experiences. -- A traditional curricular structure did not acknowledge the diverse nature of knowledge nor the kinds of debate that society needed to address problems. Curricular models created to reflect disciplinary interests did not mirror the dynamic nature of knowledge or satisfy individual and social expectations of education. -- Interdisciplinarity can dissolve the close partnership between school subjects and the disciplines and also provide a more coherent, responsive curriculum to suit a modern age. Furthermore, it is a reasonable response to the quest for social and personal relevancy. In fact, teaching subject matter in new contexts other than the disciplines is the cornerstone of the interdisciplinary philosophy. -- The interdisciplinary approach helps the individual synthesize his educational experiences into meaningful patterns. Interdisciplinary learning theories postulate that man prefers an inquiry, holistic approach to knowledge. -- These philosophical and psychological themes provide the foundation and framework for the study of interdisciplinarity. -- Interdisciplinarity has historical precedents. The successful curricula projects of the Progressive Education Association reveal challenging information for proponents of unified curricula in the modern school. In fact, all current interdisciplinary activities parallel efforts from the past. -- There are several essential prerequisites to the definition of interdisciplinarity. These are factors that either facilitate or hinder comprehensive analysis of terms. An examination of both the theory and practice of interdisciplinarity provides a philosophical ...