Multidisciplinary approach

1. Multidisciplinary Lessons
What is the multidisciplinary approach?

The multidisciplinary approach is also
called the “interdisciplinary” approach

It allows for the combination of different
subjects during one lesson or project.

It can be also be an opportunity to team
teach with another teacher if so desired
(although it is by no means necessary).

2. Multidisciplinary Lessons
Why use it?

Real-world situations are complex and
require knowledge of several different
subjects.

Encourages the students to apply their
existing and newly-acquired knowledge in
a more practical and hands-on way.

3. Multidisciplinary Lessons
Here's an example:
The Israeli-Palestinian
Conflict
Obviously, this is a very
complex issue.

4. Multidisciplinary Lessons
Here's an example:
The Israeli-Palestinian
Conflict
Religious
differences
Water resources
Retaliation
mentality
Political origins of
Israel
These are all factors in the conflict. Each factor represents a different
discipline or area of study.

5. Multidisciplinary Lessons
Here's an example:
The Israeli-Palestinian
Conflict
Religious
differences Water resources
Retaliation
mentality
Political origins of
Israel
Philosophy
Sociology
Philosophy
Earth sciences
History

6. Multidisciplinary Lessons
Here's an example:

It's impossible to analyze the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict without touching on
several different subjects.

This example is intentionally broad, but
there are plenty of opportunities to
incorporate other disciplines into your
lessons.

7. Multidisciplinary Lessons
6 steps for a multidisciplinary lesson:

Pre-instructional planning – If teaching alone, make sure
that you are acquainted with the material from the other
disciplines.

Introduce the methodology to your students – Explain
why the subject at hand has such a wide variety of
approaches to understanding it.

Deliver the lesson – Make sure to deliver the content in a
clear, coherent way so that the students understand the
connections between each point and how they relate to
each other.

8. Multidisciplinary Lessons
6 steps for a multidisciplinary lesson:

Practice interdisciplinary thinking – Give your students
regular assignments that allow them to think about
issues from other sides, other than just the subject you
teach.

Provide feedback – Note especially if the students are
able to successfully integrate and synthesize their
knowledge.

Self-assessment – Ask the students to evaluate their
ability to view a topic from multiple angles.

9. Multidisciplinary Lessons
Here's an example:
Climate change
Start by identifying some of the
important parts of the climate
change debate.

10. Multidisciplinary Lessons
Here's an example:
Climate change
Political reactions Climatology
Economic incentive to
pollute
Developing nations
desiring
improved living
conditions
Step 1: Make sure you understand all the relevant information from each
discipline. (i.e., climatology, political science, economics, and sociology)

11. Multidisciplinary Lessons
Here's an example:
Climate change
Political reactions Climatology
Economic incentive to
pollute
Developing nations
desiring
improved living
conditions
Step 2: Ask your students to map out as many factors as they can think of
that relate to climate change.

12. Multidisciplinary Lessons
Here's an example:
Climate change
Political reactions Climatology
Economic incentive to
pollute
Developing nations
desiring
improved living
conditions
Step 3: Present your prepared lesson material. If possible, get your
students to research each topic more in depth.

13. Multidisciplinary Lessons
Here's an example:
Climate change
Political reactions Climatology
Economic incentive to
pollute
Developing nations
desiring
improved living
conditions
Step 4: Have the students take sides in a mock UN panel about how to
address climate change. Have each student represent a different “interest”

14. Multidisciplinary Lessons
Here's an example:
Climate change
Political reactions Climatology
Economic incentive to
pollute
Developing nations
desiring
improved living
conditions
Step 5: Give feedback to the students (using a rubric if applicable)

15. Multidisciplinary Lessons
Here's an example:
Climate change
Political reactions Climatology
Economic incentive to
pollute
Developing nations
desiring
improved living
conditions
Step 6: Debrief students on their participation in the activity

16. Multidisciplinary Lessons
Now it's your turn:

Design an multidisciplinary lesson based
on a topic of your choice. Map out the
various issues involved (as above) and
give specific activities that you could do to
integrate and synthesize the information.

17. Multidisciplinary Lessons
Now it's your turn:

If you cannot think of a topic, here are a
few examples you may use:
-The gender pay gap
-Gun control
-Music in the 70s
-The Cold War
-The Industrial Revolution in Europe/US
-The element helium