Meaning, Definition, Aims, Objectives, Benefits, Advantages and Examples of Interdisciplinary Approach

1. INTERDISCIPLINARY
SUBJECTS & APPROACH
Dr. Pooja Walia
Assistant Professor
Department of Education
Mizoram University

2. OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENTATION
 MEANING
 CONCEPT
 DEFINITION
 EXAMPLES
 AIMS
 NEED
 IMPORTANCE
 ADVANTAGES

3. MEANING OF INTER-DISCIPLINARY
 In epistemological terms, the concept of interdisciplinary
may be regarded as a form of co-operation between
various disciplines/ subjects which contribute to the
achievement of a common end, through their
association, further the emergence and advancement
of new knowledge.
 It is an approach that consciously applies methodology
and language from more than one discipline to examine
a central theme, issue, problem, topic, or experience.

4. CONCEPT OF INTER-DISCIPLINARY
It is a holistic approach with a tradition in western
thought that comes from Plato's ideal of unity as
the highest good in all things. Interdisciplinarity
nurtures a different perspective with focus on
themes and problems of life experience.
Interdisciplinary education is a means of
communicating knowledge, know how and life skills
in accordance with strategy which is not confined to
progression within a single discipline or several
disciplines considered independently of one
another.

5. DEFINITION OF INTERDISCIPLINARY
Interdisciplinary understanding as the
capacity to integrate knowledge and
modes of thinking in two or more
disciplines or established areas of
expertise to produce a cognitive
advancement – such as explaining a
phenomenon, solving a problem, or
creating a product – in ways that would
have been impossible or unlikely through
single disciplinary means.

6. INTERDISCIPLINARY SUBJECT
Interdisciplinary subjects provide the platform to students for
explore and integrate multiple perspectives from different
disciplines, sub-disciplines and areas of expertise.
Interdisciplinarity involves a synthesis or balance of multiple
perspectives to produce such things as a deeper
understanding or illumination, a balanced judgement, viable
solution or a product that creatively accommodates the
different perspectives.
It is different from what might be called a multidisciplinary
subject which juxtaposes multiple perspectives on the same
topic without integration.

7. EXAMPLES OF INTERDISCIPLINARY SUBJECT
 Biophysics,
 Biochemistry
 Biotechnology
 Meteorology
 Environmental Education
 Education
 Economics…..

8. EXAMPLES OF INTERDISCIPLINARY SUBJECT
Certain research areas are interdisciplinary, such as
biophysics and quantum chemistry, which means that
the boundaries of physics are not rigidly defined. In the
nineteenth and twentieth centuries physics emerged as a
major unifying feature of the philosophy of science as
physics provides fundamental explanations for every
observed natural phenomenon. New ideas in physics
often explain the fundamental mechanisms of other
sciences, while opening to new research areas in
mathematics and philosophy.

9. MORE EXAMPLES
 Biochemistry is the application of chemistry to the
study of biological processes at the cellular and
molecular level. It emerged as a distinct subject
around the begining of the 20th century when
scientist combined chemistry physiology and
biology to investigate the chemistry of living system.
 For example Giberline hormone is found in plants
which may be injected in the form of chemical to
grow plant soon.

10. MORE EXAMPLE
 Human biology is an interdisciplinary academic
field of biology, biological anthropology, nutrition
and medicine which focuses on humans; it is
closely related to primate biology, and a number of
other fields.
 Biophysics is the study of biological sysytem by
using the methods and approches of physics.
Biophysical research shares significant overlaps
with biochemisrty, physical chemisrty,
nanotechnology, bioengeeneing, computational
biology , biomechanics and system biology

11. BIOTECHNOLOGY
 Biology remains the centrepiece of life science,
technological advances in molecular biology and
biotechnology have led to a burgeoning of
specializations and new, often interdisciplinary,
fields.
 Examples: Hybridisation Technology, Milk
production increase after injection, Weight increase
through injections of animals(Goat),Change in color
combination by the change in tissue culture with the
help of technology

12. MORE EXAMPLE
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study
of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back
millennia, though significant progress in
meteorology did not occur until the 17th century.
The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after
observing networks developed across several
countries. After the development of the computer in
the latter half of the 20th century, breakthroughs in
weather casting were achieved.

13. AIMS OF INTERDISCIPLINARY EDUCATION
 To establish an integrated curriculum, that is to say,
to organize the educational process in such a way
that the learner is placed in meaningful situations.
 To engages in activities which require abilities
relating to more than one subject area, so as to
achieve an effective integration of this learning
experience.
 To cater the demand of ever increasing society in
terms of knowledge and population

14. OBJECTIVES OF INTER-DISCIPL INARY
APPROACH
 be able to occupy and understand different disciplinary
perspectives;
 be able to critically evaluate knowledge from a broad
range of disciplines;
 be able to engage in interdisciplinary inquiry and
problem-solving, employing multiple ways of knowing;
 to have a meta-disciplinary understanding of the nature
of knowledge and the disciplines;
 be able to integrate, synthesise, balance and
accommodate knowledge from multiple disciplines in
order to produce something greater than would be
possible from any one disciplinary perspective

15. NEED OF INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
 Need of the hour
 Need to see World as a whole
 Utilisation of Science
 Copping with transformation of the world

16. NEED OF THE HOUR
It is recognised that the problems of the contemporary
world are increasing day by day and their solution do not
lie within one discipline. Current problems are
interdisciplinary in nature, they must be tackled through
interdisciplinary approach. It is also needed to prepare
learners more adequately to shape and choose a future.

17. NEED TO SEE WORLD AS A WHOLE
The world in which we live is a unity, but that it can be
looked at in a variety of ways. The disciplines look at the
world from a particular viewpoint, for a particular purpose.
If we concentrate in our teaching solely on these individual
approaches, it is difficult for our students to see the world
as whole, and to develop a broad understanding
necessary for education. The student has to make sense
of the world, to be able to operate successfully as a
person, as a citizen, as a productive worker. That sense of
understanding can be helped by the capacity to use the
disciplines, singly and in co-operation, as appropriate.

18. UTILISATION OF APPLICATION OF SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY
Science and technology education should be
associated with productive work, in order to prepare
the rising generation to cope with the problems
of everyday life and the community, and at the
same time to foster positive attitudes towards work.
The importance of an interdisciplinary approach
was emphasized as being essential both in
education as a whole, and in the teaching of
science and technology in particular.

19. COPPING WITH TRANSFORMATION OF THE
WORLD
Present curriculum is less appropriate as a means of
preparation for a whole population, where the emphases
need to be broader, including both intellectual
development and aspects of productive work. There is
an important reason to be prepared to look at the
curriculum in an interdisciplinary way. Our present
disciplines arose during the nineteenth century, from
older ways of describing knowledge. Developments of
this century cross the old boundaries, in nuclear
technology, in space research, computers and molecular
biology. We cannot restrict the possibilities to dividing
lines which may cease to be relevant. So there is a need
for interdisciplinary approach and subjects.

20. IMPORTANCE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY
APPROACH
 This approach provides greater flexibility in the
research.
 Creativity often requires interdisciplinary contributions to
their new field.
 Some worthwhile topics of research fall in the intersect
among the traditional disciplines.
 Many intellectual, social and practical problems require
interdisciplinary approaches.
 Interdisciplinary knowledge and research serve to
remind us of the unity in diversity.

21. …..
 Interdisciplinarians often treat themselves to the
intellectual equivalent of travelling in new lands.
 Interdisciplinarians may help to bridge
communication gaps in the modern academy,
thereby helping to mobilize its enormous intellectual
resources in the cause of greater social rationality
and justice.

22. BENEFITS OF INTERDISCIPLINARY EDUCATION
 Interdisciplinary knowledge and application of different
discipline can lead to greater creativity
 Students beginning to consolidate learning by
synthesising ideas from many perspectives and
consider an alternative way of acquire knowledge
 Exploring topics across a range of subjects boundaries
motivates students to pursue new knowledge in different
subject area
 Worthwhile topics of research can fall in the spaces,
between the traditional disciplines
 Transferable skills of critical thinking, synthesis and
research are developed and are applicable to future
learning experiences

23. ……
 Critical thinking skills are used and developed as
students look across disciplinary boundaries to
consider over viewpoints and also begin to compare
and contrast concepts across subject areas
 Students cover topics in more depth because they
are considering the many and varied perspectives
from which a topic can be explored
 Students are highly motivated when the pursuing
topic is interesting to them. As a result, the content is
often rooted in life experiences, giving an authentic
purpose for the ;learning and connecting it to real
world context
 Consequently learning becomes meaningful,
purposeful and deeper resulting in learning
experiences that stay with the students for a life time.

24. THANKS A LOT!
poojawaliakuk@gmail.com
8529201718