INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSESBenefits for AMDSB Students

GUIDING QUESTIONS• 1) How can Interdisciplinary Courses provide

quality opportunities for authentic learning for AMDSB students?

• 2) How can Interdisciplinary Courses lessen the impact of declining enrolment in AMDSB secondary schools?

The Context: St. Marys DCVI• Declining enrolment

• Smaller number of elective courses offered

• Students have fewer courses to select from than bigger schools

• Teachers are instructing outside their areas of expertise and passion

What are Interdisciplinary Courses?• IDC course philosophy is in

line with AMDSB Strategic Plan

• They develop "transferable skills" and have the potential to engender self- directed, life-long learners

• IDC courses put students in command of their own learning

Two Examples of Interdisciplinary Courses at DCVI

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Model #1 Teacher-Designed Course

• Digital Communications (IDC 40)

• Curriculum expectations from EWC 4C (Gr. 12 College Writer’s Craft), EMS 30 (Gr. 11 Open Media Studies), TGJ 3M (Gr. 11 Mixed Communications Technology)

• Literature into Film (IDC 4U)

• Curriculum expectations from ETS 4C/4U (Gr. 12 College/University Studies in Literature), TGJ 4M (Gr. 12 Mixed Communications Technology), ASM 4M (Gr. 12 Mixed Media Arts)

Two examples at St. Marys DCVI

Model #2 Student Directed Learning IDC 40/IDC 4U

• Students are explicitly taught about their own meta-cognitive processes

• Students design their own learning goals and assessment models based on their interests and post-secondary destinations through conferencing with the teacher

Benefits of Interdisciplinary Courses?

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• AMDSB Learning Community-supports Board’s Strategic Plan

• Principals-can offer courses that provide students opportunities that could not be previously offered due to lower student populations

• Teachers-can continue to teach in areas of passion and expertise. Shift in teach

• Most important…Students-authentic, self-directed learning to develop their collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, communication, problem solving skills

Benefits: Student Outcomes❖ Students in an IDC course:!

❖ Learn to become "Information Literate"!

❖ Develop the ability to view issues from multiple perspectives and to challenge their assumptions !

❖ Apply skills and knowledge to new concepts, real world tasks and on-the-job solutions!

❖ Use learning activities to stimulate, monitor, regulate and evaluate their thinking processes

Student Voice

CRITICAL THINKING CREATIVITY COMMUNICATION PROBLEM SOLVINGCOLLABORATION

Questions?