This is a two-part assignment, each worth 30 pts.
Part 1 – Academic disciplines (30 pts)
One of the most important developments in the history of the world (no joke!) is the rise of academic disciplines. Why are they so important? What have they added to the world? How do they impact our lives?
There are many levels to these questions, and we won’t address all of those levels here. But after going through this week’s content, I want you to address the following.
In a 400 word post, answer these 3 questions:
1. By drawing on the reading from Repko and my video lecture about the history of disciplines and interdisciplinarity, and the debate about the value of IDS, explain the most important strengths that come from being immersed in a single academic discipline that is not ‘interdisciplinary.’
2. Watch the video below (11 mins), and then answer the question underneath. But let me guide what you are looking for. In this video, a student majoring in mathematics describes a mathematical principle called “Bayes rule.” Bayes rule has nothing to do with what I want you to get from watching this, so don’t focus on the content of what she is describing, as interesting as it is. Look more generally at what is going on here – how the student’s major has influenced the way they think.
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZGCoVF3YvM
he question is: What positive thing can you say has happened in the mind of this student, who studies the single academic discipline of mathematics?
3. If academic disciplines have been so important, what’s the problem with them? What does the course content you read about this week have to say about the weaknesses of a disciplinary education?
Part 2 – Interdisciplinarity (30 pts)
Please answer the following questions in 400 words, focusing on the debate you read about the strengths and weaknesses of IDS:
1. In the first part of the debate paper, someone who SUPPORTS IDS discussed the most important criticisms AGAINST IDS. Why did he say he was doing this? (You’ll have to go back and look at the opening paragraph(s) in Perusall to answer to this. Most people miss it!) How is he proposing his criticism should be taken, and how does that model integrative thinking?
2. What do you think is the single most powerful argument AGAINST IDS from the first part of that article?
3. Looking back at all the readings/videos you did this week (including the second part of the debate), what do you think is the most powerful argument FOR IDS?
4. Watch the video below (4 mins), and answer the question beneath. In this video, Adam Savage, a special effects designer and former co-host of Mythbusters, describes his experience with becoming interdisciplinary.
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qNn_9tiG7s&t=4s
The question is: What do you think is the most important thing he says about the value of being a ‘generalist’?
5. Discuss: “It takes a judgment call to decide whether a ‘specialist’ or a ‘generalist’ is the best fit for a situation. Some require one, some require the other, some require both.” What is your take on how this decision should be made?
