This document discusses the value of interdisciplinary programs for digital media. It begins by defining digital media and explaining why an interdisciplinary approach is beneficial when teaching it. An interdisciplinary approach involves multiple disciplines working towards a common goal, presents challenges but mirrors the real world. It develops versatile students who can draw from different perspectives and skill sets. The document then provides examples of interdisciplinary fields and how academic silos can be broken down. It acknowledges strengths like collaboration and understanding integration but also weaknesses such as implementation challenges. It offers lessons learned from best practices and methods an interdisciplinary program can use, like internships and group projects. The document concludes by explaining how Lebanon Valley College incorporates an interdisciplinary digital communications program across various departments to yield

1. The Value of InterdisciplinaryThe Value of Interdisciplinary
Programs for Digital MediaPrograms for Digital Media
Silos don’t come from Lebanon CountySilos don’t come from Lebanon County
Joel Kline, APRJoel Kline, APR
Director, Digital Communications ProgramDirector, Digital Communications Program
Asst. Professor of Business/Digital CommunicationsAsst. Professor of Business/Digital Communications
Lebanon Valley CollegeLebanon Valley College
June 13, 2006June 13, 2006

2. “…With our expertise in interdisciplinary
problem-solving, MIT is uniquely
equipped, and obliged, to make a critical
difference: to do the analysis, to create
the innovations, to fuel the economy, and
to educate the leaders the world needs
now.”
Dr. Susan Hockfield, President of MIT

3. OverviewOverview
What is DM?What is DM?
Why teach it using an interdisciplinary orWhy teach it using an interdisciplinary or
cross disciplinary approach?cross disciplinary approach?
Examples of Interdisciplinary FieldsExamples of Interdisciplinary Fields

4. InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinary
““I didn’t think we needed to be concernedI didn’t think we needed to be concerned
with design in this class.”with design in this class.”
LVC Digital Communications student who had just finishedLVC Digital Communications student who had just finished
2 design classes and was entering a Writing for Digital2 design classes and was entering a Writing for Digital
Media English Course…Media English Course…

5. Sample Interdisciplinary FieldsSample Interdisciplinary Fields
HCIHCI
UsabilityUsability
Website DesignWebsite Design
Information DesignInformation Design
Enterprise TechEnterprise Tech
Human FactorsHuman Factors
Multimedia DesignMultimedia Design
E-commerceE-commerce
Technical Comm.Technical Comm.
BioinformaticsBioinformatics
Quantum InfoQuantum Info
ProcessingProcessing
NanotechnologyNanotechnology
AIAI

6. Academic SilosAcademic Silos
Com. Sci
Mass Comm.
Art
Business
Information Systems

7. InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinary
Involves more than 1 discipline workingInvolves more than 1 discipline working
towards common goaltowards common goal
Presents challenges for academicPresents challenges for academic
institutionsinstitutions
Normally a better mirror of the industrialNormally a better mirror of the industrial
worldworld
Develops versatile studentsDevelops versatile students

8. StrengthsStrengths
Different perspectivesDifferent perspectives
CollaborationCollaboration
Understand integrationUnderstand integration
Multiple skill setsMultiple skill sets
Pushes students outside of comfort zonePushes students outside of comfort zone
Hit the ground running after schoolHit the ground running after school
Makes intercultural coordination easierMakes intercultural coordination easier

9. WeaknessesWeaknesses
Hard to implementHard to implement
Hard to controlHard to control
Depth vs. Breadth ControversyDepth vs. Breadth Controversy
Harder to thread topics (ethics, technology,Harder to thread topics (ethics, technology,
comm.)comm.)
Curricular IssuesCurricular Issues
Seen as soft for research and facultySeen as soft for research and faculty
No place to publish or present – no conferencesNo place to publish or present – no conferences
for many levels of educationfor many levels of education

10. Lessons Learned (BP)Lessons Learned (BP)
Equal time to the disciplines involvedEqual time to the disciplines involved
Get buy-in from administrationGet buy-in from administration
Find people that are excited aboutFind people that are excited about
programprogram
Examine breadth vs. depth issueExamine breadth vs. depth issue

11. Lessons Learned II (BP)Lessons Learned II (BP)
Develop some courses from scratch,Develop some courses from scratch,
repurpose some coursesrepurpose some courses
Integrate – Integrate – IntegrateIntegrate – Integrate – Integrate
Leadership is key – ownershipLeadership is key – ownership
Bring value to each and every areaBring value to each and every area

12. MethodsMethods
InternshipsInternships
Requirements that reflect industryRequirements that reflect industry
Elective classes on DMElective classes on DM
Learning styles – relevanceLearning styles – relevance
Guest SpeakersGuest Speakers
Research ProjectsResearch Projects
Group ProjectsGroup Projects
Service Learning ProjectsService Learning Projects

13. Art
Math/CS
English
Business
How Does LVC Do It?How Does LVC Do It?
Digital Communications Program

14. DepartmentsDepartments
Business & EconomicsBusiness & Economics
Art and Art HistoryArt and Art History
English/Com.English/Com.
Math/CSMath/CS

15. What Does It Yield?What Does It Yield?
Critical Thinking SkillsCritical Thinking Skills
Collaborative SkillsCollaborative Skills
Writing SkillsWriting Skills
Oral and Rhetorical SkillsOral and Rhetorical Skills
Diversity SkillsDiversity Skills
Problem SolvingProblem Solving

16. QuestionsQuestions
Joel KlineJoel Kline
Lebanon Valley CollegeLebanon Valley College
jkline@lvc.edujkline@lvc.edu