ERIC Number: EJ829759
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Apr
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0018-1560
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Available Date: N/A
Facilitating Interdisciplinary Work: Using Quality Assessment to Create Common Ground
Oberg, Gunilla
Higher Education: The International Journal of Higher Education and Educational Planning, v57 n4 p405-415 Apr 2009
Newcomers often underestimate the challenges of interdisciplinary work and, as a rule, do not spend sufficient time to allow them to overcome differences and create common ground, which in turn leads to frustration, unresolved conflicts, and, in the worst case scenario, discontinued work. The key to successful collaboration is to facilitate the creation of a climate that will stimulate awareness of such challenges. Differing perceptions of quality and credibility among disciplines are major obstacles to successful collaboration. Some of these differences are incommensurably rooted in different epistemologies while other differences are more a question of culture. In the present paper, a framework is proposed which is designed to initiate a process necessary for success. First, the framework is designed to stimulate discussions about quality and credibility, and second it is designed to help separate epistemological differences from differences in culture. The framework takes its point of departure in five questions that deliberately include terms, such as "sufficiently", "coherently", and "reliable", which are unproblematic in a group with shared norms but become increasingly ambiguous as diversity increases. Experience suggest that pondering these questions, alone or in a group, stimulates reflection, leads to increased awareness of one's own perspective, and facilitates dialogue, collaboration, and creation of common ground.
Descriptors: Interdisciplinary Approach, Cooperation, Cultural Differences, Reflection, Educational Assessment, Educational Quality, Epistemology
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Author Affiliations: N/A