Interdisciplinarity in the Real World
Hello folks! I’m Hope Diehl, a senior here at UCF in the IDS
program. I, like many of you, wanted a degree that suited my needs, not the
other way around. My subject areas are American Sign Language (Health) and
Sociology (Behavioral and Social Sciences) with a minor in Writing/English.
Through the IDS program, I have created a Deaf Studies curriculum that has
enabled me to study the disability, deafness from a cultural perspective, and
the language nuances of deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
Watch this brief click to get an idea of what a sign
language interpreter does: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWzZcebdJjQ&feature=related I wish I could find one in the education
setting but all I kept finding were sarcastic, funny little bits to alleviate some
of the misunderstanding of roles interpreters are often faced with so this will have to do.
As a Sign Language interpreter for D/HH children, I’m always
using interdisciplinary thinking to solve problems and make connections. For
example, if a teacher is making an analogy that involves the child waking up
due to their parent’s alarm clock going off I have to automatically consider
the child’s frame of reference (most deaf kids have never woken up to any sound
since you don’t wear hearing aids to sleep) and instead use bright light from another
room or hallway as the awakening factor in my interpretation. How do you use interdisciplinarity
in daily situations?
One way to discuss what interdisciplinarity is, is to point
out what it is not. What is not interdisciplinarity?
As I mentioned above, much of my job entails
interdisciplinary thinking. Who do you know that has an interdisciplinary
profession?
Not everyone integrates their disciplines the way the
program is built to support. Say whether you are integrating your disciplines
or not, and explain how if so.
Lastly, list any opportunities (personal, professional, or
academics) that can increase our interdisciplinarity. And don’t forget to
respond the other’s posts to get full credit!
~Hope
One way to discuss what interdisciplinarity is, is to point out what it is not. What is not interdisciplinarity?
ReplyDeleteInterdisciplinarity is NOT an easy way of solving a problem because it requires multiple disciplines to solve a problem. Interdisciplinarity is also NOT a means of simply looking at multiple disciplinary perspectives because each discipline must be known in order to incorporate their unique view to determine how to best solve a problem.
As I mentioned above, much of my job entails interdisciplinary thinking. Who do you know that has an interdisciplinary profession?
My father has an interdisciplinary profession as an engineer for Disney. As an engineer, he has the ability to work outside the confines of one single field as takes many aspects into the daily decisions he makes, from designing the rides at Disney to actually building them, he utilizes an interdisciplinary approach by addressing his problems with math, physics, electrical wiring, and public relations.
Not everyone integrates their disciplines the way the program is built to support. Say whether you are integrating your disciplines or not, and explain how if so.
So far I am doing the best that I can to integrate the disciplines that I have. As a student the current job that I have does not need a high level of interdisciplinary education as my future career choice will. I do utilize behavioral and social sciences as well as public relations, but my humanities discipline and criminal justice discipline I feel could use more integration in my career. I also feel that I could do a better job at integrating all of my disciplines better in daily life and continue to build upon the integration that I do use.
Stephanie Krall
Interdisciplinary is NOT taking an issue and recruiting one discipline to focus on it, then another, and then combining the two insights. It is focusing on the issue simultaneously combining the views as one and then compiling a solution.
DeleteIn my current position, there are several procedures requiring interdisciplinary thinking. One that comes to mind is providing funding to a strategy in another country (which we do often). The development (fundraising) team has a view and the strategy team has a view, but ideally, the two views merged offer a best scenario. While often the two teams see each other as opposing, when it's really not opposing at all.
My position requires me to think outside the box often and consider several perspectives toward a task or issue.
Stephanie...I think some positions may not "require" an interdisciplinary perspective, but most positions will benefit. Seeing more than one view often enhances the productivity, quality and service provided.
DeleteDaphne Keys
Your dad's profession as an engineer for Disney is a great example of interdisciplinarity. He must integrate many areas to be successful at what he does. I think it's a great thing that you know where you stand as far as how much you integrate your disciplines into your every day life. Knowing how much you integrate already, and what you plan to do in the future to integrate more disciplines is a great goal to have. Many people have a hard time self-evaluating and setting goals like that. I think you've got a great plan.
Delete~Ashley Monk
Stephanie,
DeleteI liked reading your definition of something that is not disciplinarity. You made alot of valid points, including not being a way to solve a problem. Every single problem has multiple areas to solve and helps to look at all the areas.
-Rafaelina A. Mercado
Stephanie, what kind of career are you planning to pursue? I think that every job utilizes some form of interdisciplinarity for it is the integration of numerous tasks. I apply interdisciplinarity in daily situations at my job because I take on so many different responsibilities. I am a graphic designer, so I will take numerous companys’ logos and turn them into a rhinestone design, simultaneously. Interdisciplinarity is not just the simple task of design, interdisciplinarity incorporates every different aspect of job.
ReplyDeleteStephanie I agree that "Interdisciplinarity is NOT an easy way of solving a problem"; however sometimes I think it proves to be the easier method that choosing not. To explain, I think it is easier to integrate our disciplines to solve a problem, than it is to try and only use one to figure it out. Good post!
ReplyDeleteI, too, agree interdisciplinary is not the easiest way to solve a problem, but offers the best solutions to problems or often shares the best ideas. Most employers will be happy to hire those who have an "all around" perspective or at least one with more than one viewpoint.
DeleteDaphne Keys
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteDaphne,
DeleteI agree with your notion that employers are more than happy to hire an "all around" employee. That is how I have sold myself for years! I can only imagine my self-sales after this class and my IDS degree!
Emily Pate
I tutor math, so daily I get to apply my interdisciplinarity similarly to how I intend to when I become a teacher. I not only need the math skills required to help solve the problems, I also need the teaching skills to enable my students to actually understand what they are doing, and not just be able to come up with the correct solution. I've also been studying sociology, and while its not a necessity to teach, I've found it very handy in getting through to my students. If you know where the student is coming from and what they have and have not been exposed to it is much easier to pick a method of teaching that best suits them. Using math, education, and sociology greatly helps me to be a better tutor to these students, and hopefully in the future a better teacher as well.
ReplyDelete~Ashley Monk
Ashley,
DeleteI think teaching is one of the most fundamental and basic versions of interdisciplinary. To be effective, teachers need to do just as you described. I think being interdisciplinary in teaching is even more important today. Children aren't the same as they were in years past and parents have changed, too. to be able to communicate and teach to a broad range of students, teachers need to pull resources from all areas possible.
Emily Pate
Ashley,
DeleteI am too wanting to be a teacher someday. I never though of adding sociology as a focus to help me get a better understanding of my students. That's awesome that you have done that! That will help you read your students much better. I also must say that you are doing a great job putting all three disciplines to use in your career. Best of luck to you when you start teaching! I think you'll have all the tools you need to succeed!!
Sara Farinelli
A little sociology background is a great aid in any profession! Teaching is a profession that is truly interdisciplinary in nature.
DeleteMy brother in law is in the lawn care business. First he must have very good business, and customer relation skills to get work and keep work. Secondly he must know about different kinds of grass and plants and how to care for them. He also must be educated on bugs and pests that can cause problem on a lawn. Finally he must be able to operate and fix the machinery he uses on the lawn. All of these things he must know and use daily to keep his clients lawns looking there best. This is why lawn maintenance is a interdisciplinary profession
ReplyDelete~Ashley Monk
My husband owns a painting company and is also in the service industry. Before this blog exercise, I never gave a thought to his job being interdisciplinary. It's funny how when you break a job down, they all are interdisciplinary to some degree.
DeleteEmily Pate
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI too never really thought about how many jobs are interdisciplinary. Currently I am a cashier in the student union and I am studying to be a veterinarian. As a cashier I utilize communication and business skills throughout the day to keep everything running smoothly. As a veterinarian I will have to utilize many more interdisciplinary aspects then I feel I do now, but never the less I think that all opportunities to use an interdisciplinary method should be taken.
DeleteStephanie Krall
Ashley, I agree that lawn maintenance, like so many other jobs in the service industry, requires interdisciplinary thinking. Your post, and some of the others in this feed have shown me the variety of ways interdisciplinarity has benefited our society! In addition to being able to properly execute the tasks required by a specific occupation, one needs to be able to relate their work to others and attain varying perspectives to ensure success!
DeleteFrancine Bacchus.
How do you use interdisciplinarity in daily situations?
ReplyDeleteI am a mom of three busy kids working a full time job so daily interdisciplinary use is essential. I use fundamental managerial skills to get things moving first in the morning. Trying to move and motivate three distinct personalities takes a good amount of verbal and social skills! The personalities only increase at work. I have to effectively get a whole group of employees to put their presentations together so they can be collated by me where I will then use my computer and creative skills to further the presentation along. I do this while having a hand in several different pots. I think multi-tasking is its own form of interdisciplinary.
Who do you know that has an interdisciplinary profession?
My husband owns his own painting company. His job is definitely interdisciplinary. He has to effectively manage employees, do public relations for his company, deal with various city and state agencies, and be creative and artistic at times. I have never thought about his job as interdisciplinary before!
Not everyone integrates their disciplines the way the program is built to support. Say whether you are integrating your disciplines or not, and explain how if so.
I think I am currently, and most certainly in the future will be, integrating my disciplines. I use the BSS portion on an everyday and ongoing basis. Obviously, having a job in healthcare administration utilizes the HAS segment, but I think after graduating I will have a better sense of how I can incorporate the PA aspect.
Lastly, list any opportunities (personal, professional, or academics) that can increase our interdisciplinarity.
I think the best opportunities for interdisciplinarity come from meeting people. The more contacts you can make and maintain, the better prospects you’ll have in all aspects in the future.
Emily Pate
Emily, I agree with your view that the best opportunities for interdisciplinary come from meeting people. Having other experiences, even if they come from people always help at addressing problems. It is also good that you already are able to determine what interdisciplinary aspects you are not utilizing and will utilize in your future career. I am currently working at integrating all of my disciplinary areas to their full potential, because I feel I do not always use them. Finally, I think that multitasking is also a form of interdisciplinary because multitasking does utilize many different actions at once, though I would assume that depending on what tasks are being done, they may or may not use multiple approaches as interdisciplinary actions do.
DeleteStephanie Krall
Emily,
DeleteGetting three children in order in the morning while doing other tasks is definitely using interdisciplinary skills! Meeting new people allows us to tell different stories and see different views which is also a big part of IDS. Also the way each student incorporates their areas of study is interdisciplinary. A lot of us have the same areas of study but are applying them to our future career and minor in different ways.
Hey Emily,
DeleteYour world sounds like my world. I too have three children that I must had everyday. Well, I guess I can say 2 children because the older daughter is in high school but sometimes she can act like a little baby sometimes. Interdisciplinary skills are definitely needed especially when it comes to finances in the home. We also run our own computer business so we have to use these same skills to run the company. My husband tells me that I run all the office departments so that is just another 20 plates I have to carry. IDS has helped me understand how to integrate all the needs of my life into a functional daily routine.
I agree with you Vanessa. Balancing a career and family often leads to creative time management skills and incorporates many discipline theories throughout the day. It is helpful to view projects and tasks from several views to accomplish the "best" result.
ReplyDeleteMany small businesses will incorporate marketing, customer service and quality product (or service) to increase their business. The issue of increasing business (therefore, increasing income and profit), is addressed from an interdisciplinary perspective. Marketing will not increase business if quality or service is handled poorly. Vice-versa, if you produce well and serve well, if word isn't shared about your existence, it is difficult to grow.
Daphne Keys
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI like your application of interdisciplinarity to marketing and management skills, Daphne! We don't realize the importance of interdisciplinary thinking to properly execute such general occupations as customer service or business management. As a past worker for a non-profit organization, the quality of my work as a program coordinator would be insufficient if I didn't take the time to properly understand the context of the young girls I was working with. Great post!
DeleteFrancine Bacchus.
As per my work as the program coordinator for a non-profit management, I have had to use interdisciplinary thinking to critically analyze the day-to-day tuitions that I face. I worked with at risk girls ages 9-18, and my experiences have taught me that in order to successfully run a non-profit program, I would need more than a background in non-profit management. I had to be exposed to sociology and psychology to fully understand the case by case issues, as well as a sound business foundation to lead my team and execute administrative duties.
ReplyDeleteInterdisciplinarity does not constitute narrow-minded thinking. It requires a conscious effort to understand the contributing factors of a given problem. It is not looking at something at face value, and using misguided biases to create a solution. It is not using past judgment as a guide to help solve future issues.
When taken into perspective, every field requires some degree of interdisciplinary thinking. One example is a police officer. My friend is a police officer, and from discussions regarding his profession, I have discovered that police officers need more than an understanding of the law, but an understanding of good psychology and human communication skills to perform their duties.
Francine Bacchus.
Francine,
DeleteI really liked reading your post. I didn't think of a police officer when I thought of an interdisciplinary career but it is a perfect example. They don't just arrest people, they incorporate many other areas too. It was a great example.
-Rafaelina A. Mercado
What is not interdisciplinarity? I think that interdisciplinarity isn’t one area or subject. It is using only one aspect of our education for one purpose.
ReplyDeleteWho do you know that has an interdisciplinary profession? In the school that I work in, we have a position called ESOL Compliance Specialist. Their job is to travel to difference schools and help with paper work, conduct meetings, and over see the ESOL paraprofessionals in the schools. Her job is interdisciplinary because she uses her social skills, organizational skills, and managerial skills. She has to do many things at once.
I think that I will integrate my disciplines because I will be a teacher. I am majoring in Social Sciences, Biomedical, and Education. These three areas will make me a teacher that can make an impact in students.
I think that every learning opportunity will increase our interdisciplinarity. As teachers, we constantly have to train and learn new things to better serve our students.
-Rafaelina A. Mercado
Hi Rafaelina,
DeleteTeachers today are definitely in need of IDS skills. As a part-time substitute teacher, I see the struggles teacher have to endure these days. Not only do they have to teach our children the basic school subjects, they must also be parents to those children who have the disciplinary lacking in their homes. Your disciplines will be great for teaching today's students. Social sciences is an excellent area as I have chosen that as one of my areas, it gives you the psychological and sociological aspect of our society.