Interdisciplinary Studies Integration from the Faculty Point of View: A Case Study

The purpose of the case study was to examine the perceptions of university faculty regarding the impact that integrating interdisciplinarity into the undergraduate curriculum had on their work in curriculum development and teaching; specifically, as it related to the navigation away from their discipline specializations, and through completion of professional development, creation of new courses (First-Year Seminar), and teaching FYS. Because they serve roles in the development and delivery of the curriculum that are integral to the institution and its culture, faculty perceptions about the process of change and the establishment of interdisciplinarity in the undergraduate curriculum are significant. A researcher-developed survey and participant interviews were used to collect data. The study population consisting of faculty who taught the First-Year Seminar (a required general education course in the undergraduate curriculum) were surveyed. A sample of faculty representing a cross-section of disciplines was interviewed for their perspectives on preparation, development, teaching, and reflections of their interdisciplinary courses. Findings from the case study revealed that FYS faculty perceived their role as integral to university-wide initiatives to establish interdisciplinarity in the undergraduate curriculum; that they focused on interdisciplinary learning activities and assignments supportive of the university’s learning outcomes; that they spent a greater amount of time researching and designing different types of projects focused on active learning than in their disciplinary-specific courses; processes instead of products were stressed in FYS classes (e.g., critical thinking and problem solving, the core modes of thinking in FYS); and, their interdisciplinary backgrounds prior to completing the required professional development course were important to their interdisciplinary curriculum development and teaching. Overall, the study’s participants perceived that their interdisciplinary work provided opportunities to explore new approaches to teaching and learning outside of their disciplinary specializations. While they valued their interdisciplinary work, FYS faculty reported unexpected challenges such as an unusually large of amount of time required for interdisciplinary work, a need for increased knowledge in unfamiliar disciplines, and development of new classroom strategies focused on teaching primarily freshman students

Marshall University Music Department Presents a Faculty Recital, featuring, Stephen Lawson, horn, assisted by J. Steven Hall, marimba, percussion, Kay Lawson, bassoon, Peggy Johnson, piano

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Marshall University Music Department Presents a Faculty Recital featuring Stephen Lawson, horn, assisted by, J. Steven Hall, marimba, percussion, Kay Lawson, bassoon, Peggy Johnston, piano

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Marshall University Music Department Presents Music from the Age of Invention, The Maelzel Woodwind Quintet

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Marshall University Music Department Presents a Faculty Recital, Woodwind Quintets

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Marshall University Music Department Presents Music from the Age of Invention, The Maelzel Woodwind Quintet, performing on historical instruments from the early 19th century, Wendell Dobbs, flute, Richard Kravchak, oboe, Richard Spece, clarinet, Stephen Lawson, horn, Kay Lawson, bassoon

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Investigation of Individual Instruction and its Application to the Operation of Audio-Visual Equipment

Clothing, Textiles, and Merchandisin

Marshall University Music Department Presents a Woodwind Ensembles Recital, Studios of Ann Marie Bingham, Edwin Bingham, Kay Lawson and Wendell Dobbs

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Marshall University Music Department Presents a Woodwind Ensembles Recital

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Marshall University Music Department Presents the Marshall University Sonatina Festival and Competition Program

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