ABCs of interdisciplinary curriculum development for autonomous institutions

ABCs of interdisciplinary curriculum development for autonomous institutions

~Lalit Kishore

ABC poem

A: Active course of study that integrates meaningfully various formal concentric curricula under disciplinary studies of various subjects, erstwhile isolated from one another

B: Beginning with a concept note and a framework for reconstructing and validating the integrated curricula as an innovation for trailing and improvement

C: Curriculum tries to combine several subjects holistically into one through systematic statements that combine the integrated subject matter and thinking skills through monthly units with criterion referenced trimester certification

D: Development of autonomous learners who access relevant information from various disciplines to present a holistic perspective through information processing skills, researching skills and technical communication skills

E: Effective implementation requires integrations of various methods and competencies (higher order thinking and communication skills) related teaching-learning-evaluation continuum with credits earning at mastery level

STEPS IN DESIGNING AND ACTIVATING INTERDISCIPLINARY MONTHLY LEARNING UNITS

1. Identify the key resource leader and a team of three curriculum designers

2. Have a shared vision at the management level

3. Create an organizing unit

4. Develop trimester curriculum designs

5. Train classroom instructors

6. Plan and implement units

7. Review Student Performance and the Unit Itself to refine curriculum