BUILDING PLANES IN THE
SKY: A (SURPRISINGLY)
SUCCESSFUL APPROACH TO
DESIGNING AN
INTERDISCIPLINARY CORE
CURRICULUM
Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy
February 10, 2016
PANELISTS
Catherine Zeek, Director, Teaching and Learning Center
Linda Bucci, Chair, Justice Studies Department
Michael Daley, Coordinator, Multidisciplinary Course
Dennis Frey, Coordinator, Global & Historical Knowledge
Perspective
Sarahbeth Golden, Founding Coordinator, Individuals &
Society Knowledge Perspective
BUILDING PLANES IN THE SKY
In a sense, it’s what we do…we build curriculum while we’re learning.
IDEAL FLIGHT PLAN:
1ST YEAR
Intellectual
Skills
Critical reading; Written
communication; Oral
communication;
Quantitative reasoning;
Applying technological tools
to solve problems;
Collecting/researching data
& sources; Working
collaboratively
Knowledge
Perspectives
(Aesthetics &
Creativity; Global &
Historical
Perspectives;
Individuals & Society;
Scientific Inquiry &
Problem-Solving)
Synthesis & Application
(Meanings/knowledge creation/diversity;
Ethical decision-making & moral reasoning;
Active citizenship)
IDEAL FLIGHT PLAN :
2ND YEAR
Intellectual Skills
Critical reading; Written
communication; Oral
communication;
Quantitative reasoning; Applying
technological tools to solve
problems;
Collecting/researching data &
sources; Working collaboratively
Knowledge
Perspectives
Aesthetics & Creativity;
Global & Historical
Perspectives; Individuals &
Society; Scientific Inquiry &
Problem-solving
Synthesis & Application
Meanings/knowledge creation/diversity;
Ethical decision-making & moral reasoning;
Active citizenship
IDEAL FLIGHT PLAN :
3RD YEAR
Intellectual Skills
Critical reading; Written
communication; Oral
communication;
Quantitative reasoning; Applying
technological tools to solve
problems;
Collecting/researching data &
sources; Working collaboratively
Knowledge
Perspectives
Aesthetics & Creativity; Global &
Historical Perspectives;
Individuals & Society; Scientific
Inquiry & Problem-solving
Synthesis & Application
Meanings/knowledge creation/diversity;
Ethical decision-making & moral reasoning;
Active citizenship
IDEAL FLIGHT PLAN :
Synthesis & Application
4TH YEAR
Meanings/knowledge creation/diversity;
Ethical decision-making & moral reasoning;
Active citizenship
Intellectual Skills
Critical reading; Written
communication; Oral
communication;
Quantitative reasoning; Applying
technological tools to solve
problems;
Collecting/researching data &
sources;
Aesthetics & Creativity; Global &
Working collaboratively
Historical Perspectives;
Individuals & Society; Scientific
Inquiry & Problem-solving
Knowledge
Perspectives
IDEAL SEQUENCE
IT’S THE JOURNEY, NOT THE
DESTINATION
Psychological & Societal Area
of Inquiry (old general ed)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Principles of Anthropology
Intro to Criminal Justice
Principles of Microeconomics
Economics of Social Issues
Intro to Environmental Studies
Foundations of the American Legal
System
American Government
State & Local Government
Contemporary issues in Political Science
Intro to Psychology
Aging in America
Intro to Sociology
Intro to Women’s Studies
Individuals & Society
Knowledge Perspective
• Evaluate and understand how
individual differences &
societal contexts impact
human behaviors, beliefs,
values, interactions, and
emotional & intellectual
processes
•
•
•
•
CONNECTIONS
ASSUMPTIONS
INEQUITY
POWER
NOW FOR SOME
TURBULENCE
Astronomy
Chapter 2. Patterns in the Sky—Motions of
Earth and the Moon
Chapter 3. Motion of Astronomical Bodies
Chapter 4. Gravity and Orbits
Chapter 5. Light
Chapter 6. The Tools of the Astronomer
Chapter 7. The Birth and Evolution of
Planetary Systems
Chapter 8. The Terrestrial Planets and
Earth’s Moon
Chapter 9. Atmospheres of the Terrestrial
Planets
Chapter 10. Worlds of Gas and Liquid—The
Giant Planets
Chapter 11. Planetary Moons and Rings
Chapter 12. Dwarf Planets and Small Solar
System Bodies
Chapter 13. Taking the Measure of Stars
Chapter 14. Our Star—The Sun
Life Science
Chapter 1.
Thinking Like
an Astronomer
Chapter 1:
The Nature of
Science
Chapter 2: The Chemistry of Life
Chapter 3: Cell Structure and Internal
Compartments
Chapter 4: Cell Membranes, Transport, and
Communication
Chapter 5: Energy, Metabolism, and
Enzymes
Chapter 6: Photosynthesis and Cellular
Respiration
Chapter 7: Cell Division
Chapter 8: Cancer and Human Health
Chapter 9: Patterns of Inheritance
Chapter 10: Chromosomes and Human
Genetics
Chapter 11: DNA and Genes
Chapter 12: From Gene to Protein
Chapter 13: DNA Technology
Astronomy
Life Science
• Identifying a research question and
identifying variables
• Developing a method that allows for
collection of adequate and relevant data
• Recording appropriate data
• Processing the raw data utilizing quantitative
reasoning skills
• Presenting data utilizing appropriate
technological tools
• Communicating results and drawing
conclusions based on reasonable
interpretations of data collected
• Evaluating procedures to identify weaknesses
and limitations of the investigation
CONNECTING FLIGHTS
How Academic Departments Connect the Core Knowledge
Perspectives to the Major
 Students in the department courses build on the KPs:
(examples of how the KPs and department goals can intersect)
 LS 101 uses same embedded assignment for assessment of core and
department learning outcomes
 Research Methods – CJ majors can build on the “process” of learning after
introduced to core KP - Scientific Inquiry & Problem-Solving
 Non-majors taking the KP course (LS 101 - Individuals & Society) connect the
material in a different way than the major - pulling out the broader themes
- connections between individuals and systems
- move beyond personal experience (see the bigger picture)
- analyze inequities
- differences in power

THE GUIDANCE SYSTEM
•Assessment
•Professional Development
IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU ALL
BUILDING AIRPLANES IN THE
SKY?
- Features of a flexible, nimble, and responsive curriculum?
- Always in the loop, or is it a hamster wheel?
- Successes, challenges, ongoing adventures?
CONTACT US
Panelist
Email address
Catherine Zeek
czeek@lasell.edu
Linda Bucci
lbucci@lasell.edu
Michael Daley
mdaley@lasell.edu
Dennis Frey
dfrey@lasell.edu
Sarahbeth Golden
sgolden@lasell.edu