Improve the Quality of Instruction through Interdisciplinary Internationally Oriented Faculty Resource Teams / Linda R. Andersen.

In order to improve the quality of instruction at California State University Fullerton, this 3-year project established multi-disciplinary faculty resource teams from liberal arts, social sciences, and professional programs to design and lead one-week discussions in host classes. Teams were composed of seven members with a core group of three representing the fields of international economics, political science, and history. Anthropology, Afro-Ethnic Studies, Religious Studies, and Japanese culture were also represented during the project. Team members focused on interrelationships among disciplines, and international dimensions of topics. On invitation of a "host" instructor, subteams designed and gave interactive presentations during one class-week in courses from various disciplines. Goals were to promote integrative and critical thinking, to internationalize the curriculum, to offer faculty development, and to overcome fragmentation in the educational experience. Students appreciated "the broad picture," scholarly controversy in action, and the perspectives of representatives of other cultures. Some faculty were surprised to find that perspectives of other disciplines proved so relevant or enriching to their own fields. Collaborative interdisciplinary research ensued. Appendixes include a copy of a pilot evaluation instrument for student responses, project details, student evaluation samples and summaries, a pilot test and data, and dissemination materials. (JB)

Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.