Priming Beginning Students for Interdisciplinarity

Wigginton, R.

Although global problems usually require the expertise of diverse fields, and advanced students often engage in interdisciplinary research, beginning students come to university with a limited notion of disciplinarity and a sometimes prejudiced understanding of the values of different disciplines and their methodologies. While the benefits of interdisciplinary study have been recognized as helping students recognize bias, think critically, tolerate ambiguity, and solve problems creatively, it can be difficult to introduce multidisciplinary understanding to beginning students. This poster will address course strategies to cultivate in students the habits of mind that foster disciplinary awareness and appreciation for interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving, and provide participants with resources for discussions and activities.

Rebecca Wigginton, English