Interdisciplinary... is an organizational unit that crosses traditional boundaries between academic disciplines or schools of thought, as new needs and professions emerge. (Wikipedia, 2015)
From looking at my professional connections map, there are individual strands and I need to think deeper to see the links for my practice. The definition from Wikipedia explains that boundaries are crossed as new needs emerge. I reflected further on the relevance to my current practice and the current issues in my community (Post 4), using blended learning in the classroom. Through blended learning and online communities, there have been more opportunities to move away from traditional teaching methods and create links with others, thus widening my experiences beyond my classroom and school community. This has made me a more informed teacher.
Students engaged in interdisciplinary learning often find the content more exciting and relevant, especially if teachers can connect the disciplines not only to each other but also to the past and present in a way that relates to students' lives. (Jacobs, 2015)
This quote explains the benefits for students but the same information can be said for teachers who engage in interdisciplinary communities. Teachers engaging with other communities can see other practices that are relevant. Through collaboration, it also can create an enthusiasm which Jacobs explains would not happen in isolation. There are benefits of belonging to an online community such as facebook and the Mindlab discussion group because I get to see how other schools are responding to similar issues. It also gives me ideas and links to resources that I can use in my daily teaching practice. It is important to learn from others. As new themes are emerging in my school, it is possible to see some examples but it would be more relevant to learn from others that have these practices more embedded. Through online conversations, images and videos it is been possible to see examples of blended learning and the challenge is how I can apply this to my own teaching as well as adhering to my schools vision.
Carroll (2009) describes that learning in communities is an important way we can learn through participation with others. He says that "formal education cannot prepare people for a world that changes rapidly and continually." By engaging with learning communities students and teachers have the opportunity to engage in a wider society. The schools I have worked in have been predominantly one culture; in Birmingham, predominantly Muslim; South Auckland, predominantly Maori and my current school predominantly Pakeha. For the children in these schools it is important for them to engage with other learning communities to gain a better sense of the world we live in. This year, my team have re-established links with Orakei Marae working on the local environment. It has allowed my class to engage with a different culture and they have learned of practices and protocols relating to planting and Maori culture. I have undertaken Maori language courses and school PD, however being a kinesthetic learner, the connection with Orakei Marae has been an effective way to strengthen my own knowledge and practices.
From the map, it can be seen that the largest and most relevant community I engage with is my school. Previously I have needed to engage with outside agencies but this isn't relevant for my current class. I successfully connect with online communities which is important to keep up with current issues and trends. Orakei Marae is a community connection I would like to continue with to help myself and my future students by making learning relevant using the local community.
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