The Chronicle of Higher Education, a publication focused on the world of post-secondary education and educators, recently (November 22, 2009) ran an article [Interdisciplinary Hype] providing an alternative perspective on the utility and future of interdisciplinary education.
Read the article at: http://chronicle.com/article/Interdisciplinary-Hype/49191/
WARNING!!! To access this article, you will need to do so from the UCF network. Why? UCF pays for a subscription that only gets authenticated via the network. If you attempt to access the article from somewhere other than UCF, you'll be asked to subscribe (which wouldn't be a bad thing but is not necessary for the sake of this assignment).
In the comments section, provide answers to the following questions.
1) In consideration of the authors academic and experiential background, do you agree with his vision of interdisciplinary education? Why/why not?
2) What implications would there be for UCF if the author were selected as the Provost of this university?
3) Has this article changed your perspective on interdisciplinary education? Why or why not? If so, in what way(s)?
Deadline to comment is Thursday, 12/10/2009, 11:59am
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According to the article the author is a professor of both sociology and education. He therefore is an interdisciplinary educator (as they are two separate disciplines) which gives his opinions a little more weight. His vision of interdisciplinary education is spot on. Strong specialized disciplines must exist in order for a worthwhile interdisciplinary education. This seems like a no brainer to me. I also agree that most interdisciplinary fields will eventually become fully fledged specialized areas of study. Take for example some of the tracks offered by the IDS department right here at UCF. Is it hard to believe environmental studies or women’s studies will become specialized majors in the future? Hell, they already are individual programs at other universities.
ReplyDeleteNext to nothing would change if the author were to become provost of the university. As I mentioned before his vision simply requires strong individual disciplines in order for IDS to exist, a notion which mirrors the system currently in place.
As far as my vision of interdisciplinary studies is concerned it has not changed one bit after reading the article. It simply reinforced my perspective.
Dec/6/09
ReplyDelete1) In consideration of the authors academic and experiential background, do you agree with his vision of interdisciplinary education? Why/why not?
I do not agree with his vision of interdisciplinary. I think even in the short term it will be good, not disastrous. He briefly stated his views and the rest of the article was full of statistics, which I like. “the National Science Foundation reports
cross-disciplinary citation rates in a broad group of 11 fields, ranging
from highs of 38.3 percent in biology and 34.5 percent in psychology to
lows of 18.3 percent in physics and 16.8 percent in earth science.”
2) What implications would there be for UCF if the author were selected as the Provost of this university?
I would not like this guy to be the provost of UCf. I feel he is very negative twords IDS. “The only questions are how long such organizational reshuffling would persist, how much disruption would ensue, and how many careers would be diverted or derailed in the process.” He makes some good points but I think he is going to be wrong. I think he was saying if we continue to do this short term is going to have major effects, and the system will eventually re-grow itself back to the way it was. I don’t agree with him.
3) Has this article changed your perspective on interdisciplinary education? Why or why not? If so, in what way(s)?
This article has not changed my view on IDS. First off because this article comes as no surprise to me. Before choosing this major I did tons of research on it and looked up all the pros, and cons. I know what people are saying that are against our major, and what people are saying that are for it. I choose to pave my own road and I feel great with IDS and the fields I choose.
-Mike Grasso
1) In consideration of the authors academic and experiential background, do you agree with his vision of interdisciplinary education? Why/why not?
ReplyDeleteI agree that the author it correct in think that we need people who are highly specialized in certain areas especially after I interned in the Family Medicine clinic in Florida Hospital and found that Family Physicians are virtually useless next to a specialized doctor. But with that said I feel that nothing can rightfully make sense without the big picture of interdisciplinarity.
2) What implications would there be for UCF if the author were selected as the Provost of this university?
I don’t not think it would be good for UCF especially for the undergraduate programs where I think that interdisciplinarity is the most useful because I do not feel like you can truly specialize with the amount of minimal education that is provided and in such case it is probably more beneficial to get something like a IDS degree and then make a decision on what it is that you would like to do.
3) Has this article changed your perspective on interdisciplinary education? Why or why not? If so, in what way(s)?
No it has not changed how I fell about IDS. I think for the most part with some exceptions on the severity that I feel the author takes I agree with what it is that he saying.
1) The author’s academic and experiential background helps me agree even more with his vision of interdisciplinary education. Since he is a professor of two different disciplines, he must have been able to see the benefits of each discipline intermingling with the other, and the obvious connections between the two. I definitely agree with his vision of interdisciplinary education, especially that it should not totally overtake other single disciplined forms of education. It should be offered as an option, just as other majors are.
ReplyDelete2) I would not like it if he were the Provost of this university, but I have to say that I do agree with him when he says that Interdisciplinary Studies will not totally take over the education system and that disciplinary structure will always reign supreme. He seems a bit too negative towards IDS for me, so I would rather he not have a big say in what happens to UCF.
3) This has not changed my perspective because I have always thought that although IDS is a fantastic idea for me, it may not work for all students. Not everyone will be able to take advantage of the things I have, and it may not always sound appealing. I do not think IDS will totally change the education system, but I do believe for those who do choose to take advantage of it, it will help them in ways no other major would be able to.
1) In consideration of the author's academic and experiential background, do you agree with his vision of interdisciplinary education? Why/why not?
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article a second time, the author gives no cut and dry vision of interdisciplinary education. He presents an equal number of good and bad points on the history of interdisciplinary studies and poses the warning of the attempted "Harvard's department of social relations proved unable to unify anthropology, psychology, and sociology and finally agreed to a divorce in 1972 after more than 20 years of marriage."
2) What implications would there be for UCF if the author were selected as the Provost of this university?
To me, the implications would be a clear evaluation of how the IDS program is used, structured, and coordinated. I presume IDS is not simply a replacement of General Studies, but a program designed to reflect the diversity and dynamicism of the student's natural gifts. If Mr. Jacobs lack of a clear definition of what interdisciplinary education is suppose to be, his encapsulation of what is being done side-by-side and the apparently "well-known" failure, IDS would remain its own entity with a future that should grow as the future students who choose it from the first day of their collegiate trek or changes with indecision and self-realizations over time.
3) Has this article changed your perspective on interdisciplinary education? Why or why not? If so, in what way(s)?
My perspective is summed up with "to each their own." I am very familiar with my natural gifts and have no qualms about the unexpected. Though the raw number of courses available are dizzying, the disciplines are rigid and structured by the powers that be with no input of the student.
So, the article poses a thought of the future of the program having a massive and quick expansion to cover all followed by its collapse with little forewarning. So, my take on the article is let IDS progress along side the other disciplines as is. If our system of higher learning will be totally interdisciplinary, it will achieve the proper form in good time.
1) In consideration of the authors academic and experiential background, do you agree with his vision of interdisciplinary education? Why/why not?
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with the author’s vision because his vision seems defeatist without creativity, tenacity nor planning. Interdisciplinary Education curriculum needs to be built and changed on an ongoing basis to gain momentum, keep goals of the degree relevant, and allow incoming IDS students adapt and flourish as well as have a useful degree coming out the other end.
2) What implications would there be for UCF if the author were selected as the Provost of this university?
I did not think that the author believed in the long-term future of IDS—I wasn’t convinced, and therefore did not feel he’d be an asset as Provost.
3) Has this article changed your perspective on interdisciplinary education? Why or why not? If so, in what way(s)?
Building an Interdisciplinary Curriculum is not easy. It needs to keep its own rollup structure (as here in UCF). In addition, the “Interdisciplinary Vision” needs to reflect tenacity, change, and research at its core—to maintain its relevance in forming practical degrees, mentoring students in setting career goals, and promoting the success of current and previous IDS alumni as an Elite group—kind of like Special Forces is to the Military. These should be some of the seeds germinating cornerstone and capstone.
This article did not change my perspective on interdisciplinary education—it was disappointing that it questioned the validity of IDS by its statistics—where I believe in IDS’s integrity, usefulness and marketability.
Lisa
1) In consideration of the authors academic and experiential background, do you agree with his vision of interdisciplinary education? Why/why not? I somewhat agree with some of the things he says, but he definitely is narrow minded when it comes to the mono-disciplinary fields, because if you just look at Physics, it encompasses many different fields within it that are related, like electricity and magnetism. Who would have ever thought that those two seemingly different fields are interrelated, and the same goes for the entire electromagnetic spectrum, like radio waves are part of the same continuum as visible light and gamma rays. At one point, physics was considered interdisciplinary, and now the distinction seems to be somewhat blurred, but there are many fields within the superfield of Physics.
ReplyDelete2) What implications would there be for UCF if the author were selected as the Provost of this university? I don’t think there would be too many changes for UCF because the author does acknowledge interdisciplinarity is important, but he probably would moreso try and limit the amount of students in the interdisciplinary program and ask that a majority of the students as his institution chose a traditional degree program and stick with it.
3) Has this article changed your perspective on interdisciplinary education? Why or why not? If so, in what way(s)? Not so much; I still believe that interdisciplinarity manifests itself in every field, and is quite beneficial to the society at large. It allows for new ideas, innovations, and inventions in ways that a traditional field cannot.
1) I think he has many interesting points. Interdisciplinarity should be utilized for a greater goal, not just for the sake of being interdisciplinary. I think he is being harsh and a little short-sided. A little like scolding for being innovative. But yet, he realizes how long interdisciplinary studies have been around and used. I think it adds to academe and not disassembles. However, I feel that it works with disciplines not in place of. Also, I think there are some combinations of study that make sense and some combinations that are just out of a student not wanting to choose an area.
ReplyDelete2) I think there would be some changes to what areas could be combined. I think there would have to be a defense of why you were choosing your areas and how it is beneficial to you and the university. I don't think he is against the programs. I think he would like them to be refined and useful.
3) This whole process has changed my mind. I feel different at the end of this semester than I did at the beginning and different than when I started this degree. It's been an evolution, a continuum. It's helped teach me to think. It's been a good experience. I agree with him on some points and I think others are unfounded and too much of a generalization. It did make me realize that I can get caught up in a situation to where you form your view and it's nice to get another side to help form your own opinion. It's like when your children realize you don't know everything and find that one teacher that open's their eyes to the process of thinking for themselves. It can change, cement or reinforce your opinions. But either way your perception is altered.
1) In consideration of the authors academic and experiential background, do you agree with his vision of interdisciplinary education? Why/why not?
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything that the author of this article said. I think that its so important to be educated in the areas that you are trying to find a career in. In our economy today it is so important to have as much knowledge as possible in order to succeed. We need the best of the best to work in our businesses in todays society and the only way this will happen is if we educate our students the best way possible. Being interdisciplinary will allow you to do these things much easier.
2) What implications would there be for UCF if the author were selected as the Provost of this university?
Im not sure how many implications there would be if the author was the Provist of the University but I do think that he would like to see more students get a specific degree leaning towards 1 career rather then being interdisciplinary and having 3 different paths to choose from.
3) Has this article changed your perspective on interdisciplinary education? Why or why not? If so, in what way(s)?
No, No matter what he says or how he likes the idea of interdisciplinary studies will not change my mind on how I think of it. I am very happy that I got this degree and I think that it will only help me more in the future with all of the options that I have to choose from. Overall this degree to me is the best choice that I have ever made.
1) I have to put some weight in the fact that the author himself comes from an interdisciplinary background. With that said I agree with the author. While interdisciplinary studies has been great if I were hiring an accountant I would much rather take a person who majored in account rather then an IDS student.
ReplyDelete2)I do and dont think I would be happy with him as our schools provost. I do because I understand how he is saying a focus point is more beneficial but on the same notion the path I have taken through IDS is getting me where I want to be and he seems to have a negative view of IDS.
3)It definitely did not change my ideas of IDS the program is great. It has allowed me to spread my wings and enjoy a variety of subjects that would all count towards my degree.
1. Essentially it seems as though the author is stressing that interdisciplinary education shouldn’t be replacing specialized education. This is very understandable, while there should be a respect and understanding of what an interdisciplinary education offers, there is room for specialization that still crosses boundaries. There is no need for there to be an either/or type of approach, since as the author mentions, the existence of strong areas of study allow for successful interdisciplinarity.
ReplyDelete2. I think that he would just seek to insure that the IDS program would not grow “fragmented” and over-abundant in terms of research centers. There would be room for both types of education.
3. It hasn’t changed my perspective on and IDS education, however I feel as though the author laid out some issues to at least consider in terms of the negative aspects of such an education.
Well I agree that student or people in general should strive to achieve things not yet achieved, discover things not yet discovered. This type of inquiry should be encouraged by colleges and universities, not because it is interdisciplinarity but because it is involving inquisitiveness. Any and all learning is worthwhile, regardless of what discipline or disciplines it involved or encompasses.
ReplyDeleteIf Mr. Jacobs obtained the position of provost of this university I do not think that he would keep his job too long. I think that the implication for the UCF community would be minimal because he wouldn’t be around long.
I still like the idea of an IDS education. I have and always will be a strong believer in any type of education, regardless of the discipline.
Thank you for this article. It helps us make sure we have a balanced viewpoint.
ReplyDeleteIt is important that we understand that we are a unique group of students and teachers and all have similiar reasons for choosing the degree. As I listened to our presentations, both the environment and poster presentations, I heard a common theme. Most of us chose IDS because we had no clue what major we really wanted. We were not satisfied each time we claimed a different major. Let's not kid ourselves, many of us may have looked at this degree as the "easy way out". Hopefully however, our Cornerstone and Capstone experiences have made us better ambassadors of interdisciplinary.
It is important that interdisciplinary does not become a "jack of all trades" scenario. It is important to have specialized areas of study. The difference is that we hopefully have a firm grasp on each of our areas and blend them to create ourselves as a well rounded, adaptable professional, rather than someone who dabbles in a few different areas.
There may be some benefit to having him as a provost at UCF. If we are all such big proponents of balance and bringing together different persectives, then would their not be some benefit to having his different perspective at UCF? To me having someone like him would keep us in check and make sure we are doing the right thing when it comes to IDS and not making it to be more or less than what it really is.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYes and No. In consideration of Jerry A. Jacob’s academic and experiential background, I am surprised he would write a discouraging piece on Interdisciplinary curriculum. As a professor of sociology and education, he should see the overall necessity for IDS. I agree that there will always be a need for specialized education, but I don’t agree that Interdisciplinary is all “HYPE”.
ReplyDeleteJerry is not too fond of IDS, thus he would probably make financial changes or entirely eliminate the curriculum if her were the Provost of UCF. Further, he probably would have kept the Radiological program at UCF, and cut the less popular programs. Fortunately, he is NOT the provost our school.
Overall, the article has not changed my perspective on interdisciplinary education because I know how valuable my degree will be. However, I found it mildly refreshing to examine an opposing view –which helps me reiterate why IDS is important.
I think that since he has the aspect of being part of the interdisciplinary and being part of a discipline his points are valid. I some what agree with him because there is a valid point to his argument is that sometimes when you break everything down you still need the specifics for it.
ReplyDeleteI do not think there would be any. I think because of his experience he would continue with the current trends and system. Since one of his back grounds is education, he would know what will work and what wouldn't.
After reading the article my views did not change. I felt after reading it he was only ranting and trying to discouraged change and try to undo the balance of things changing and adapting to newer and unthought about markets.
The author very much practices this type of learning and teaches two completely different disciplines, yet he seems to have a negative take on IDS. I appreciate the reality that he does not think that interdisciplinary should take the place of a single discipline education, but that it should be an option.
ReplyDeleteI do not think the author would become a good provost for the IDS program at UCF. I also do not think that we should take our areas lightly and just skim over the material. I think you should be completely into your three areas and somehow blend them together after learning all about them.
This article has not changed my view of IDS. I know how much I have gained through an interdisciplinary education and I have enjoyed learning about all the different combinations of IDS from my classmates. There are so many of us who needed the diversity and stimulation of three different or similar areas in our education.
1) In consideration of the authors academic and experiential background, do you agree with his vision of interdisciplinary education? Why/why not?
ReplyDeleteGiven his background, his words do hold some weight. Whether or not Given I agree with him is a different story. Pink would not like him, because he is very close minded and seems to think he knows what's coming at every angle.
2) What implications would there be for UCF if the author were selected as the Provost of this university?
I do not think he would serve well as the Provost for UCF. This program is a great part the educational system at UCF and I think it can only add and not hinder. Although the author did make some valid points.
3) Has this article changed your perspective on interdisciplinary education? Why or why not? If so, in what way(s)?
This article has not changed my perspective at all. A program like this is perfect for some students and builds upon a wider knowledge base.
In consideration of the author’s academic and experiential background, do you agree with his vision of interdisciplinary education?
ReplyDeleteI do agree with the author vision of education overall becoming more interdisciplinary. This change has been called upon by the problems of a world in need.
What implications would there be for UCF if the author were selected as the Provost of this university?
It would not be an easy task to just change the structure of traditional majors but over time we could learn break down the department walls and intertwine a web of disciplines.
Has this article changed your perspective on interdisciplinary education?
Yes this article has made me realize that even long standing single interest majors such as mathematics and engineering can be combined with other departments to produce stronger, well rounded students that will be better prepared for the real world job market upon graduation. After all in today’s world, who has a job that requires them to know only one skill?
1) In consideration of the authors academic and experiential background, do you agree with his vision of interdisciplinary education? Why/why not?
ReplyDeleteI think that either the author is making a bit of a straw man argument or I need to learn a lot more about current interdisciplinary proposals in academia. For all the encouragement I've heard about interdisciplinarity, I don't believe I've quite heard what this author is talking about, people suggesting the elimination of academic departments or other kinds of complete, enforced interdisciplinarity.
2) What implications would there be for UCF if the author were selected as the Provost of this university?
Obviously I can only evaluate the author based on their opinion of interdisciplinary studies, but I don't think our program would be in any particular danger with this person as provost, if that's what you're getting at.
3) Has this article changed your perspective on interdisciplinary education? Why or why not? If so, in what way(s)?
Not really, though it makes me question how some people view interdisciplinarity. I think it's just as important as I ever did, though I think that some people may view it as, as the author put it, a panacea.
1) In consideration of the authors academic and experiential background, do you agree with his vision of interdisciplinary education? Why/why not?
ReplyDeleteI agree that interdisciplinary should be considered an option and would never replace a single disciplinary curriculum. However, I do believe that there is a place for interdisciplinary programs and I would not agree with the author to the extent that he does not support more interdisciplinary programs.
2) What implications would there be for UCF if the author were selected as the Provost of this university?
I'm not sure that he would support the program that we are all currently a part of. Obviously, being an interdisciplinary student I feel that the program is necessary because I never found a program that offered everything I was personally interested in. So, I would more than likely still be very confused with my direction in life.
3) Has this article changed your perspective on interdisciplinary education? Why or why not? If so, in what way(s)?
I think that after going through cornerstone and capstone I have developed my own person interdisciplinary aspects because it is the way that my academics make sense to me. Therefore, no I have not changed my opinion on interdisciplinary education.
1) In consideration of the authors academic and experiential background, do you agree with his vision of interdisciplinary education? Why/why not?
ReplyDeleteThere are things I agree and disagree with. I agree that merely skimming the surfaces of different areas is not good but I don't understand why he seems to be so against the idea of an IDS program.
2) What implications would there be for UCF if the author were selected as the Provost of this university?
I see him either revamping the interdisciplinary studies program that we have if not eliminating it entirely.
3) Has this article changed your perspective on interdisciplinary education? Why or why not? If so, in what way(s)?
My opinion has not changed after reading this article. I still see advantages and disadvantages in my own view of things. Everything said in this article is simply to support his own opinion.
While the author proposes good and unfavorable points for interdisciplinary education but I disagree in that there needs to be specialization in one field. One professional should be able to manage and sift through seamlessly between areas of expertise, a true renaissance man.
ReplyDeleteAs provost this man would not support our major and would have use choose a specific area of interest instead of the three. Not having that.
The article doesn't really change how I feel about my major. It does however make me realize that there is people in the world that don't take the decision to have three minor areas of study instead of one major one. To people like him we are a jack of all trades, master of none...
1) In consideration of the authors academic and experiential background, do you agree with his vision of interdisciplinary education? Why/why not?
ReplyDeleteEh, I agree with the author in the sense that his knowledge on the academic sense of the interdisciplinary studies is significant and accountable. However, i found him to be a bit closed minded and more negative about the outcomes and support for the education aspect of it.
2) What implications would there be for UCF if the author were selected as the Provost of this university?
I definitely would not want to see that happen. I believe he would be too negative about the program and either belittled it to the point it wasn't an option anymore at the University, or just feel there would be no chance in a future career with the degree in the IDS program.
3) Has this article changed your perspective on interdisciplinary education? Why or why not? If so, in what way(s)?
No, i experienced the program on my own, and what better way to understand what is good for yourself when you're going through the motions and the degree towards that particular degree yourself. Again, i feel that the IDS program allowed me to be more well rounded and open-minded.