The Kean Community was provided an open conversation about the value of interdisciplinarity for teaching, research, and community engagement. Divided into three dialogue segments, the workshop included outlining the development of ID courses and programs at Kean, addressing the conceptual meaning of inter- versus multi- and trans- disciplinarity, and an introduction to the new Interdisciplinary Studies Center as a Kean resource, housed within the College of Liberal Arts. The workshop offered practical, teaching-focused reflections on the methods and strategies that can be used in the course structure, set-up, delivery, and assessment of ID courses and minor programs. Application of the methods can be used to foster future cross-college interdisciplinary work and engage students in the classroom or as part of creative and scholarly works.

1. “LAUNCHING” a Reality Check Croft, Cifelli, & Alghandoor
Kean University – Workshop PDD – May 2017
This handout contains…
– How/Where to begin? (Using Word Clouds, Concept Diagrams…)
– Defining the “Scene I of Act I” of your intent (Plausible Pathways)
– SLOs (GE, Program, others) and direct/indirect assessment
– KU Library Resources (Approach and Use)
– Distinguishing Archival Resources
– Archival Resources and Examples

2. “LAUNCHING” a Reality Check Croft, Cifelli, & Alghandoor
Kean University – Workshop PDD – May 2017
Organizing thoughts and logistics
How/Where to begin? (Using Word Clouds, Concept Diagrams…)
Purpose/Intent for use of Transdisciplinary in course
Approach as assignment v lecture v term paper v term project v full course or other
Decisions-Decisions-Decisions
Make use of Word-Clouds, Concept Diagrams, Keywords in decision-making and/or allow students to do
so as part of their exploration.
Using these, can define themes/topics as well as pathways you want students to follow…
- Categorization or Classification
- Process flow diagram
- Peer reviews
- Invests
SLOs (GE) – see http://www.kean.edu/academics/college-liberal-arts/school-general-studies/general-studies-mission-and-slos
- Transdisciplinarity: The ability to integrate knowledge and methods from different fields to
address historical or contemporary questions.
- Critical Thinking: The ability to utilize reflective analysis to draw informed conclusions.
- Quantitative Literacy: The ability to utilize numerical data accurately and effectively to address
real world problems.
- Communication Literacies: The ability to speak and write effectively to convey and make an
evidence-based argument.
- Information and Technology Literacy: The ability to utilize information and communications
technology critically and effectively in a rapidly changing world.
- Active Citizenship: A commitment to lifelong civic engagement at a local, national and/or global
level.
- Ethical Judgment and Integrity: The ability to draw reasonable conclusions from ethical questions
to guide personal conduct.
- Diversity: A commitment to promote inclusivity in a diverse world.

3. “LAUNCHING” a Reality Check Croft, Cifelli, & Alghandoor
Kean University – Workshop PDD – May 2017
Plausible Pathways: Embedding Historical and Primary Library Resources
Consider the steps listed below when developing a plan for connecting your students to historical and primary
Library resources for your course project(s). Record your thoughts/ideas in the boxes on the right...
Course project
Value added by drawing connections
to historical/primary sources from
various disciplines/perspectives?
Relate to SLOs
(course, program, GE)
Review search tools: Library
databases, digital collections, and
research guides
(See next page of handout)
Consult with a Librarian
Provide students with a Toolbox
(connect students to relevant
Library search tools)
Foster opportunities for interactions
and collegial learning across
departments
Schedule a Library instruction
workshop

4. “LAUNCHING” a Reality Check Croft, Cifelli, & Alghandoor
Kean University – Workshop PDD – May 2017
Scholarly journal archive databases include:
JSTOR – multidisciplinary
Periodicals Archive Online -- multidisciplinary
PsycINFO – psychology, behavioral science
SocINDEX -- sociology
Newspaper archive databases include:
New Jersey Historical Newspapers
Nineteenth Century U.S. Newspapers
ProQuest Historical New York Times
Legal History databases:
HeinOnline: The Modern Link to Legal History
Slavery in America and the World (HeinOnline)
Women and the Law (Peggy) -- HeinOnline
Kean University Library
http://libguides.kean.edu/Library
Articles & More
(A-Z Databases)
http://libguides.kean.edu/az.php
Research Guides
http://libguides.kean.edu
Digital Collections
http://cdm15353.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm
Library Digital Collections include:
Estelle Ritchie Collection
Guillermo Thorn Photographs
Kean University Newspapers
Kean University Yearbooks

5. “LAUNCHING” a Reality Check Croft, Cifelli, & Alghandoor
Kean University – Workshop PDD – May 2017
Archival Resources

6. “LAUNCHING” a Reality Check Croft, Cifelli, & Alghandoor
Kean University – Workshop PDD – May 2017

7. “LAUNCHING” a Reality Check Croft, Cifelli, & Alghandoor
Kean University – Workshop PDD – May 2017
Alghandoor, Erin – Archivist, Kean University
Kean University Library
908-734-1670
ealghand@kean.edu
http://archives.kean.edu
Cifelli, Linda – Instruction Librarian, Kean University
Kean University Library
908-737-4603
lcifelli@kean.edu
http://libguides.kean.edu/Library
Croft, Paul J. – Faculty, Kean University
School of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences
908-737-3737
pcroft@kean.edu
http://www.kean.edu/~sess/
Living Archives: Undergraduates Need Content with Historical Investigation, Nuance, and Guidance
as a Reality Check (“LAUNCHING” a Reality Check)
This workshop offered a self-organizing template to guide potential for, and outcomes associated with, the use of
archival and primary source materials using historical contexts in course content, practicum, and research
projects. Examples were presented as to how archival, reference, and historical materials can be integrated with
student learning experiences to broaden understanding as well as to offer synthesis of their general education
across disciplines. The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to brainstorm with colleagues and
generate intended outcomes, modes, and methods of integration for “LAUNCHING a Reality Check” with their
own students in their program of coursework, research, and practicum experiences.
Participants were offered and encountered the (a) justifications, development process, and investments; (b)
generation of intended outcomes, modes, and methods of integration; and (c) the dividends of “LAUNCHING a
Reality Check” for students. Using the template and demonstrative examples of the process the session provided
information to participants for the achievement of transdisciplinary learning experiences. This method allows
focus when identifying plausible pathways by which to present and integrate the transdisciplinary approach to
learning and enhancement and to build a brainstorming environment.