The Value of Interdisciplinary The Value of Interdisciplinary Programs for Digital MediaPrograms for Digital Media

Silos don’t come from Lebanon CountySilos don’t come from Lebanon CountyJoel Kline, APRJoel Kline, APR

Director, Digital Communications ProgramDirector, Digital Communications ProgramAsst. Professor of Business/Digital CommunicationsAsst. Professor of Business/Digital Communications

Lebanon Valley CollegeLebanon Valley CollegeJune 13, 2006June 13, 2006

“…With our expertise in interdisciplinary problem-solving, MIT is uniquely equipped, and obliged, to make a critical difference: to do the analysis, to create the innovations, to fuel the economy, and to educate the leaders the world needs now.”

Dr. Susan Hockfield, President of MIT

OverviewOverview

What is DM?What is DM?

Why teach it using an interdisciplinary or Why teach it using an interdisciplinary or cross disciplinary approach?cross disciplinary approach?

Examples of Interdisciplinary FieldsExamples of Interdisciplinary Fields

InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinary

““I didn’t think we needed to be concerned I didn’t think we needed to be concerned with design in this class.”with design in this class.”

LVC Digital Communications student who had just finished LVC Digital Communications student who had just finished 2 design classes and was entering a Writing for Digital 2 design classes and was entering a Writing for Digital Media English Course…Media English Course…

Sample Interdisciplinary FieldsSample Interdisciplinary Fields

HCIHCI

UsabilityUsability

Website DesignWebsite Design

Information DesignInformation Design

Enterprise TechEnterprise Tech

Human FactorsHuman Factors

Multimedia DesignMultimedia Design

E-commerceE-commerce

Technical Comm.Technical Comm.

BioinformaticsBioinformatics

Quantum Info Quantum Info ProcessingProcessing

NanotechnologyNanotechnology

AIAI

Academic SilosAcademic Silos

Com. Sci

Mass Comm.

Art

Business

Information Systems

InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinary

Involves more than 1 discipline working Involves more than 1 discipline working towards common goaltowards common goal

Presents challenges for academic Presents challenges for academic institutionsinstitutions

Normally a better mirror of the industrial Normally a better mirror of the industrial worldworld

Develops versatile studentsDevelops versatile students

StrengthsStrengths

Different perspectivesDifferent perspectives

CollaborationCollaboration

Understand integrationUnderstand integration

Multiple skill setsMultiple skill sets

Pushes students outside of comfort zonePushes students outside of comfort zone

Hit the ground running after schoolHit the ground running after school

Makes intercultural coordination easierMakes intercultural coordination easier

WeaknessesWeaknesses

Hard to implementHard to implement

Hard to controlHard to control

Depth vs. Breadth ControversyDepth vs. Breadth Controversy

Harder to thread topics (ethics, technology, Harder to thread topics (ethics, technology, comm.)comm.)

Curricular IssuesCurricular Issues

Seen as soft for research and facultySeen as soft for research and faculty

No place to publish or present – no conferences No place to publish or present – no conferences for many levels of educationfor many levels of education

Lessons Learned (BP)Lessons Learned (BP)

Equal time to the disciplines involvedEqual time to the disciplines involved

Get buy-in from administrationGet buy-in from administration

Find people that are excited about Find people that are excited about programprogram

Examine breadth vs. depth issueExamine breadth vs. depth issue

Lessons Learned II (BP)Lessons Learned II (BP)

Develop some courses from scratch, Develop some courses from scratch, repurpose some coursesrepurpose some courses

Integrate – Integrate – IntegrateIntegrate – Integrate – Integrate

Leadership is key – ownershipLeadership is key – ownership

Bring value to each and every areaBring value to each and every area

MethodsMethods

InternshipsInternshipsRequirements that reflect industryRequirements that reflect industryElective classes on DMElective classes on DMLearning styles – relevanceLearning styles – relevanceGuest SpeakersGuest SpeakersResearch ProjectsResearch ProjectsGroup ProjectsGroup ProjectsService Learning ProjectsService Learning Projects

Art

Math/CS

English

Business

How Does LVC Do It?How Does LVC Do It?

Digital Communications Program

DepartmentsDepartments

Business & EconomicsBusiness & Economics

Art and Art HistoryArt and Art History

English/Com. English/Com.

Math/CSMath/CS

What Does It Yield?What Does It Yield?

Critical Thinking SkillsCritical Thinking Skills

Collaborative SkillsCollaborative Skills

Writing SkillsWriting Skills

Oral and Rhetorical SkillsOral and Rhetorical Skills

Diversity SkillsDiversity Skills

Problem SolvingProblem Solving

QuestionsQuestions

Joel KlineJoel Kline

Lebanon Valley CollegeLebanon Valley College

jkline@lvc.edujkline@lvc.edu