Interdisciplinary Thinking

Module overview

This module is offered in the context of a multi-disciplinary programme that requires students to both demonstrate appropriate appreciation of disciplines which are foreign to them (including an understanding of current research and research methods, an awareness of the current limits of knowledge in that discipline) and an appreciation of the possibilities of multi- and inter-disciplinary research opportunities.

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Develop an appropriate evaluation strategy and use it to evaluate the effectiveness of a solution.
Analyse complex interdisciplinary engineering problems and reach substantiated conclusions that take into account incomplete or uncertain information.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Identify and analyse ethical issues and make reasoned choices informed by appropriate professional and ethical practices.
Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences using a range of methods, and reflect on the effectiveness of those methods.
Search effectively for appropriate sources of information in support of the solution of complex problems and critically evaluate those sources.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

New developments in Interdisciplinary Studies and the wider context of engineering.
The techniques that are applicable to analysing complex interdisciplinary engineering problems.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching and learning is through lectures and tutorials

Study time
Type	Hours
Lecture	10
Tutorial	10
Preparation for scheduled sessions	5
Completion of assessment task	100
Wider reading or practice	20
Follow-up work	5
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Repko A. F. (2008). Interdisciplinary Research: Process and Theory. Sage Publications.

Keri Facer and Kate Pahl, eds (2017). Valuing Interdisciplinary Collaborative Research: Beyond Impact. Bristol University Press.

Koen Gaast, Laura Koenders, Ger Post (Author) (2019). Academic Skills for Interdisciplinary Studies. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.

Assessment

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Peer review

Assessment Type: Formative
Feedback: Peer feedback is direct. After 1 week, individual feedback will be provided to prepare the students for the final submission. Students can meet with the module leader to clarify their understanding prior to the hand-in deadline.
Final Assessment: No
Group Work: No

Individual Oral Presentation

Assessment Type: Formative
Feedback: Immediate feedback will be provided verbally to prepare the students for their final submission. A summarised version will be circulated to students the following week.
Final Assessment: No
Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Coursework	100%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Coursework assignment(s)	100%

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Coursework assignment(s)	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External