Success in Interdisciplinary Study
| Module title | Success in Interdisciplinary Study |
|---|---|
| Module code | FCH1001 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | |
| Module staff | Professor Marion Gibson (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 4 | 3 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 140 |
|---|
Module description
This module is a forum for students to meet with each other within the FCH learning community, and to work together to identify, learn and practise new skills that will assist you in your interdisciplinary FCH learning. It will be a compulsory module for all Streatham and St Luke’s-based FCH students.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module prepares you for your FCH studies, giving practical guidance on the challenges and opportunities of multidisciplinary study and providing the opportunity for you to discuss the problem-solving aspirations of this approach.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Define interdisciplinary study, its challenges and opportunities, in a way helpful to your development and accessible to an employer or general enquirer
- 2. Write a SWOT analysis and PDP
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Identify and explain how FCH will work for you: having identified basic information about your course, be enabled to plan your learning and anticipate challenges and opportunities
- 4. Give an example of a wicked problem addressed by interdisciplinary approaches and reflect on the implications for your own studies, development and employability
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Identify your key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and be enabled to reflect on these and plan accordingly
- 6. Follow a PDP designed by you, modify it as your studies and employment develop, and reflect on its outcomes and further development
Syllabus plan
This is an indicative plan, subject to modification.
Term 1
Introductory whole cohort workshop: “The Idea of A University”. This class brings together the FCH learning community across all its subjects to think about what your interdisciplinary studies can achieve. We look at definitions of multi- and inter-disciplinarity, multipotentiality and the solving of “wicked” problems. A short lecture on university learning (featuring some of the great theorists and debates: Niccolo Machiavelli, John Henry Newman, the Free Black University movement etc) is followed by a workshop on the practical issues in interdisciplinary learning as they apply specifically to each FCH student. This workshop will help you find out key information and plan your studies personally.
Seminars: “Making FCH Work for You: Questions and Planning”. These follow up on the introductory workshop. You will complete a SWOT skills audit and begin to draft a Personal Development Plan that focuses specifically on planning your interdisciplinary learning.
FCH Special Event: alongside the seminars: a whole cohort lecture/workshop on a topical theme by a
guest expert. This reflects on a specific example of how “wicked problems” are addressed by
interdisciplinary collaboration.
Term 2
Seminars: “Making FCH Work for You: Outcomes” reflecting individually on your skills audit, with feedback, and looking ahead to employability.
Careers event: “What Did Interdisciplinary Learning Ever Do for Me?” with alumni speakers who studied
different FCH subjects and now work in a range of fields:
A pre-module-choice lecture/workshop with FCH subject coordinators on planning for and making year 2
study choices. Includes a community social event.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 3 | Introductory lecture, guest speaker, module choice event |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 2 | Planning and outcomes seminars |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 2 | Lecture by guest speakers |
| Guided Independent Study | 7 | Planning, reflection, using module resources |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWOT skills audit | Max 200 words | 1, 2, 3, 5 | Oral feedback |
| Personal Development Plan (PDP) draft | Max 1000 words | 1, 3, 4, 6 | Oral feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDP logged via BART | 100 | Max 1000 words | 1-6 | Oral feedback in class with option to follow up with module tutor |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDP logged via BART (max 1000 words) | PDP logged via BART (max 1000 words) | 1-6 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Resubmission with corrections/submission during summer refer/defer period
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Beard, C. and J. P. Wilson (2018) Experiential Learning 4th ed. (Kogan Page).
- Briggs Myers, I. & Myers, P. (1995) Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type 2nd ed.(Davies-Black
- Publishing)
- Cottrell, S. (2021) Skills for Success: The Personal Development Handbook 4th ed. (Palgrave Macmillan)
- Cottrell, S. (2019) The Study Skills Handbook 5th ed. (Palgrave Macmillan)
- Epstein, D. (2019) Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World (Macmillan)
- Fine, L. (2009) The SWOT Analysis: Using your Strength to overcome Weaknesses, Using Opportunities to
- overcome Threats (Createspace)
- Gibbs, G. (1988) Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods (Further Education Unit)
- Helms, M. N. and J. Nixon (2010) “Exploring SWOT analysis: where are we now? A review of academic research
- from the last decade” Journal of Strategy and Management 3:3 215-25
- Honey, P. & Mumford, A. (1992) The Manual of Learning Styles 3rd ed. (Maidenhead)
- Kolb, D. (1983) Experiential Learning: Experience as a Source of Learning and Development (Prentice Hall)
- Moon, J. (2004) A Handbook of Reflective and Experiential Learning (Routledge)
- Moore, S. (2005) How to be a Student (Open University)
- Northedge, A. (2005) The Good Study Guide (Open University)
- Race, P. (2012) How to Study: Practical Tips for University Students (Blackwell)
- Rittel, H.W.J and M. M. Webber (1973) “Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning” Policy Sciences 4 155-69
- Repko, A. and R. Szostak. (2021) Interdisciplinary Research 4th ed. (Sage)
- Smale, B. and J. Fowlie (2015) How to Succeed at University (Sage)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- British Library, “What is SWOT analysis” https://www.bl.uk/business-and-ip-centre/articles/what-is-swot-analysis
- Camillius, J. (2008) “Strategy as a Wicked Problem” Harvard Business Review https://hbr.org/2008/05/strategy-as-a-wicked-problem
- De Almeida Kumlien, A.C. and P. Coughlan (2018) “Wicked Problems and How to Solve Them" https://theconversation.com/wicked-problems-and-how-to-solve-them-100047
- Drew, C. (2019) “What is a Multidisciplinary Approach to Design?” https://blog.wearefuturegov.com/what-is-a-multidisciplinary-approach-to-design-b5f62a28b804
- Weller, M. and M. Appleby. (2021) “What are the Benefits of Interdisciplinary Study?” https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education/what-are-the-benefits-interdisciplinary-study
- Honey and Mumford learning styles questionnaire: http://www.peterhoney.com/content/LearningStylesQuestionnaire.html
- VARK: a guide to learning preferences: http://vark-learn.com
- https://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/personal-development-planning-what-you-need-to-know/
- https://jobs.natwestgroup.com/posts/5-top-tips-for-creating-an-effective-pdp
- https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/developing-your-health-career/developing-your-health-career/personal-development-planning/personal-development-planning
| Credit value | |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 0 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 04/09/2021 |
| Last revision date | 05/01/2022 |
