What is Transdisciplinary Learning in IATL?
What is Transdisciplinary Learning
While interdisciplinary learning focuses on the integration of disciplinary approaches, transdisciplinary looks at how knowledge from beyond the disciplines can be incorporated into student learning. This ultimately stems from the vision that complex problems require a holistic collaboration between both academic and public spheres of knowledge. Here, cultural resources from disciplines, traditions and practices from both inside and outside of academia are synthesized in “problem-based” learning. Some of IATL’s modules offer you the chance to engage with trans- disciplinarity.
Core aspects of transdisciplinary learning include co-creation, dimensional thinking, problem-solving and global citizenry. Transdisciplinary ties to IATL’s Learning Beyond Borders Link opens in a new windowcore activity, where students and staff are encouraged to bring their unique perspective, knowledge, and experience to the learning environment and to engage wherever possible with learners from different cultures, countries and backgrounds.
Transdisciplinary also connects to decolonizing approaches in higher education that critically examine and question what knowledge is valued in academic spaces in the effort to engage cultural viewpoints and practices excluded from the university.
Citations:
IBO (2010) The Primary Years Programme as a model of transdisciplinary learning. Cardiff: IBO.
McGregor, S.L.T. (2017) ‘Transdisciplinary Pedagogy in Higher Education: Transdisciplinary Learning, Learning Cycles and Habits of Minds’ in P. Gibbs (Ed.) Transdisciplinary Higher Education. Cham: Springer Verlag. 3-16.