Multi-Disciplinary Approach that Boosts Learning Outcome to the Next Level

A student’s Real School journey and stages through inquiry, discovery and innovation were analyzed and described in our students learning journey post. Through these various stages of learning students explore various concepts. The essence of these projects is that these concepts are not just limited to Physics or Arts or Math.

Learning without Boundaries!

When Kejal was studying boiling points of various liquids while researching about what can prevent milk from boiling over, she will also come across other subjects such as Physics. For instance how water in the milk can be boiled in vacuum pressure that will prevent milk from scalding.

When the student integrates principles and concepts from various subjects it helps them combine and connect what she/ he learns rather than compartmentalize knowledge.

More Relevant & Contextual

With this multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach students are breaking a critical barrier to learning – relevance and context.

Questions such as “ What am I going to use this for” or “what’s in it for me” is answered because when students dig deeper, dabble and experiment with various concepts they learn how seemingly unrelated content and theory fit together into the bigger scheme of things.

Deeper Understanding of Subjects and Concepts Leads to Informed Future Career Choices

There is yet another breakthrough with this approach. Those who experience this process of learning will gain a strong and deeper understanding of the subject. When that happens, a student has a clear vision of what he likes, where his aptitude lies and what he wants to pursue. This is completely missing in a subject-based curriculum approach. And why is that the case? It is because when a student learns subjects in isolation, he does not get the kind of exposure to knowledge that is needed for him to take a clear call on whether this subject works for him or not?

Example

There was a student who was intrigued by media and journalism. When she wanted to pursue a career in Journalism, she realized that she needed a sound understanding of math and statistics. And it does not just end in calculating percentages, she also had to interpret and analyze data. Who would think that math and mass communication had such a connection? Pick any profession and you will need to use a multitude of skills, An attorney may not only need to master the several laws and civic procedures but he also has to have a deep knowledge of behavioural economics.

A pilot needs to have geography and meteorological knowledge. Real jobs require professionals to have knowledge of more than one subject. Then isn’t it logical that when learning the basics of any subjects, the right way to do so is by connecting the concepts from various subjects? And if that is done, a student will truly know where his interests lie and not just blindly go the Engineer or the medical route.

The Secret to Helping Every Kid Succeed

Students with the Subject-based curriculum are ushered to finish chapters despite having an insufficient or limited understanding of the content. The questions at the end of the chapter or a quarterly or final do not give a true reflection of the child’s understanding. There are serious gaps in their ability which is left unnoticed and the child moves from one class to the other until a time comes when these gaps are difficult to bridge.

Then there is this other side of the bell curve who are exceptional performers who are denied the opportunity to explore beyond the standardized curriculum. A teaching approach that is inclusive of all subjects and crosses the boundaries of curriculum and discipline is ideal for both these groups.

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