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
[email protected]@lvc.edu
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