Interdisciplinary Learning in Public Spaces BIOL5458

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: MVLS College Services
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Runs Throughout Semesters 1 and 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Taught Wholly by Distance Learning: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course focusses on interdisciplinarity and informal learning in public engagement. Interdisciplinarity is valued across education, research, and industry, but does not yet sufficiently inform programming in cultural institutions. This course will equip students with insights into research and creative practices across disciplines and explore different skills needed to successfully communicate science topics and pitch science exhibits to different audiences.

Timetable

This course will run through semesters 1 and 2 as a mix of synchronous and asynchronous lectures, with synchronous seminars and workshops.

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

1. Presentation (10min)- 35% (ILOs 2 to 4)

2. Video of script of exhibition pieces (2 max) (7min) - 35% (ILOs 1 and 5)

3. Reflective piece (500 words) - 30% (ILO 3)

Course Aims

This course aims to provide opportunities for students to:

■ Explore and identify the breadth of knowledge associated with human, natural, and social sciences, and practices across art, engineering and design and how these are interconnected

■ Develop an understanding of designing and utilising social media relevant to the interest of young adults with museum and gallery learning

■ Explore tools and techniques for gallery/activity educational engagement that draws on contemporary research

■ To reflect critically on self-learning and how this experience can shape successful future design and development of gallery and museum educational engagement

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a critical knowledge of the component parts involved in designing, developing and facilitating a successful science education experience and how these influence each other. 

2. Critically appraise existing interdisciplinary research methodologies and evaluate their outcomes.

3. Critically evaluate the impact of interdisciplinary learning tools in informal settings.

4. Critically appraise different bodies of knowledge and articulate the epistemological distinctions between disciplines.

5. Critically assess and plan appropriate activities to communicate interdisciplinarity to a young adult audience.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.