The Clifford C. F. Wong Secondary Library Guide
IDU Guide
Introduction
Why is it important for students?
Interdisciplinary learning empowers students to draw on their learning from multiple subjects, encouraging a deeper and more connected understanding. It also focuses on “learning how to learn” through the systematic development of approaches to learning, for communication, collaboration, organization, self-management, reflection, research, informational literacy, media literacy, creative and critical thinking, and transfer of learning.
An overview on IDU at ISF
Grade 6
I&S and Science
The Climate Change IDU brings the subjects of Science and Individuals and Society together through the key concept of ‘choice’. Students investigate the scientific causes of climate change and identify human actions which are speeding up this process. Students finish this unit by making a Global Citizens poster. Identifying choices which they themselves can make to help reduce their global footprint and contribution to climate change.
Grade 7
English and Design
This interdisciplinary collaboration between Design and English introduces Grade 7 students to the world of ‘choose your own adventure’ books. These are books that allow the reader to assume the role of the protagonist and make choices that determine his/her actions and the plot’s outcome.
Having learned about the genre and game mechanics, students will take the genre online and produce their own You are the Hero game experience for the 21st century.
Grade 8
I&S and Science
Public Health
Students in Grade 8 take on the role of a museum curator that has been asked to research a specific communicable disease that was prevalent during the Industrial Revolution. They will synthesize their knowledge from Science and I&S to explain what has changed and what has not.
Students will complete a Research Action Plan, which documents and summarizes their research, including MLA8 citations for their sources.
They will also create an engaging museum exhibition poster, in which the tone, language, and presentation are appropriate for their audience.
Grade 9
Grade 10
Mathematics and I&S
In this IDU, students will spend a full day exploring the use of statistics to promote a fictitious cause. During this time, you will learn about Nudge Theory and engage with data previously unseen.
Taking on the role of an intern working for a non-profit organisation (NGO). Students will look at different methods to raise its online profile.
Preparation
In regular Mathematics sessions, students have been working on statistical concepts to support this project. Typically, students might include use of some of the following skills:
- Various statistical diagrams (line plots, stem-and-leaf diagram, bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, box and whisker diagrams)
- Measure of central tendency and spread. (mean, median, mode, range, quartiles, IQR, standard deviation)
- Recording and organizing data. (frequency table and histogram)
- Line of best fit, scatter plots and trend
- Pearson’s coefficient of correlation r and its significance
- Correlation vs. Causation.
Students are expected to draw upon a range of I&S skills, not just from previous lessons, but from earlier in the course. Typically, students might include some of the following ideas in their work:
- Demographics and human movements
- Trade, aid and exchange
- Economic agents and their interests and role in the economy: consumers, producers, governments, banks
- Measurements and trends
- Ecological relationships
- Industrialization and technological developments
