Undergraduates as Interdisciplinary Researchers: Gains in Competencies and Conceptual Knowledge

Abstract

This study measured competencies and conceptual knowledge developed by undergraduates who participated in a 2-month interdisciplinary research project at a large urban university in Southeast US. Working in groups, students chose a shared topic of significant interest and examined it through the combined lens of multidisciplinary insights toward a more comprehensive understanding of the topic. Significant gains were observed on a cloze test of students’ conceptual knowledge of their topic in addition to perceived gains in cognitive abilities and skills associated with interdisciplinarity and most-sought-out 21^st century skills. Limitations and recommendations are discussed for designing and implementing similar interdisciplinary engagements.

Keywords:

• Interdisciplinary
• 21st century skills
• schema
• content knowledge
• cloze test

Additional information

Funding

The study reported in this paper was supported by a Faculty Teaching Fellowship awarded to the author by Georgia State University's Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning & Online Education.