Teaching Key Points of Integration: The University of Alberta Approach

Many universities in North America, Europe, and elsewhere have recognized the need to teach science in an integrated manner, to reflect how modern science is now conducted. The focus of this symposium is on how the curriculum and structure of the program can help create scientists whose first language is interdisciplinary science, and whose perspectives are inherently global in scope.  A fundamental question for all integrated science programs is: What are the key points of integration (e.g., concepts, themes, methodologies, structure)? How can the teaching of these key points be supported through the curriculum, lectures, labs, assignments, field trips, and group projects? What is the relationship between the curriculum and a global perspective?

Speakers from the University of Leicester (UK), the University of British Columbia and the University of Alberta will present the top three key points of integration from their three different approaches.

At Leicester, there has been an attempt to create a global perspective to the degree program in Interdisciplinary Science through, for example, a student exchange program and a field-work course in Kenya as part of a Sustainable Livelihoods module.  Is a global perspective a key to success?

At UBC, the integration is supported through  lectures, labs, assignments, group projects, and special presentations. For example, each Science One lecture is presented with instructors in the other disciplines present to help provide, when appropriate, the interdisciplinary perspective right in the classroom. As well, in a study titled "A Value-Added Analysis of UBC's Science One Program" by Dryden et al., evidence of the strengths of Science One graduates has been quantified. Are such interdisciplinary lectures a key to success?

At Alberta, the Science 100 program  also includes curriculum material from psychology, earth and atmospheric sciences, and computing science. Furthermore, capstone and group projects help synthesize some of the key points of integration and take the students outside the classroom with local, national, and international perspectives. Is a broader base of science disciplines essential to the global problems that we face?

The interleaved discussion and questions from the audience will be moderated by a representative of the Integrated Science  Program (iSci) at McMaster University.