Education today is more important than ever before. With the world becoming increasingly complex and specialized, it’s crucial that students receive a well-rounded education. But what does that mean, exactly?
In order to be prepared for the real world, students need to be exposed to a variety of disciplines and perspectives. They need to learn how to think critically and solve problems from multiple angles.
What is a Cross Disciplinary Project?
A cross disciplinary project incorporates knowledge and skills from two or more academic disciplines. For example, a project about the Civil War might include research from history, political science, and geography.
In general, cross disciplinary projects:
- Broaden students’ understanding of a topic by considering it from multiple perspectives
- Help students see connections between different academic disciplines
- Encourage students to think creatively and critically
- Develop problem-solving and collaboration skills
Examples of Cross Disciplinary Projects
There are many examples of cross disciplinary projects. Here are a few:
- A project that combines aspects of mathematics and art could have students create symmetrical patterns or tessellations.
- A project that combines music and science could have students create songs about the solar system or the water cycle.
- A project that combines literature and history could have students compare and contrast different versions of a folktale from different cultures.
- A project that combines physical education and math could have students keep track of their heart rates during various activities and graph the results.
How to Choose a Project Idea
There are a few things to consider when choosing a project idea. The first is what you’re passionate about. What are you curious about? What do you enjoy doing? Chances are, if you’re interested in a topic, you’ll be more likely to put in the extra effort required to make a project on that topic successful.
Another thing to consider is what skills you have. Do you have experience with the necessary tools and technologies? Are you familiar with the subject matter? If not, can you learn what you need to know? It’s important to choose a project idea that’s feasible, given your skill set.
Finally, think about what impact you want your project to have. Do you want it to be useful for people? Entertaining? Educational? Inspirational? Choose a project idea that aligns with your goals for the project.
Tips for Successfully Completing a Cross Disciplinary Project
When embarking on a cross disciplinary project, it is important to keep the following tips in mind in order to ensure success:
- Define the scope of the project upfront and ensure that all team members are clear on what is expected.
- Create a project plan that takes into account the different skills and knowledge required from each discipline.
- Appoint a project manager who will be responsible for keeping everyone on track and ensuring that deadlines are met.
- Allow for regular communication and collaboration between team members, including holding regular meetings to update each other on progress.
- Keep an open mind towards new ideas and approaches from other disciplines – this is what makes a cross disciplinary project so beneficial!