Article
Developing Integrative Thinking in Undergraduate Students through an Interdisciplinary General Education Course on Mental Illness
College Teaching
(2021)
Abstract
Because interdisciplinary thinking is critical to address complex issues, we created and evaluated an interdisciplinary team-taught undergraduate course on mental illness using the kaleidoscope approach. After grounding students in biology, psychology and sociology, we aimed to develop students’ abilities to think interdisciplinarily and cultivate their appreciation of the importance of integration. We found that guided integration practice enhanced students’ interdisciplinary abilities, whereas repeated application of these skills emphasized their importance. Future interdisciplinary courses should intertwine both types of experiences to increase the likelihood students develop integration abilities and choose to apply them to solve complex problems facing our world.
Keywords
- Interdisciplinary approach,
- integration ability,
- importance of integration,
- kaleidoscope approach,
- team-taught,
- mental illness,
- indirect vs. direct assessment
Disciplines
Publication Date
October, 2021
DOI
10.1080/87567555.2021.1982856
Publisher Statement
This is a link to the article published by Taylor & Francis Online in College Teaching on October 2021, available online: 10.1080/87567555.2021.1982856.
Citation Information
Jennifer R. Kowalski, Tara T. Lineweaver and Katherine B. Novak. "Developing Integrative Thinking in Undergraduate Students through an Interdisciplinary General Education Course on Mental Illness" College Teaching (2021) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/katherine_novak/53/