Here's how we view integration and how we're doing it:
KAITLYN- I would say integration is learning that things are never just black or white. The gray area is everything. For the longest time I found myself caught up with my own debate: Are we dominated by thought, or feeling? Is it logic, rationality, form and structure? Is the universe ordered, and thereby quantitfiable? Or is our ability to feel what makes us human? Emotions, intuition, symbolism--is that where its at? Is the universe chaotic, and its our job to use our subjectivities to make sense of it? Yes, this is what I ended up writing every lit paper about. And you know what my assertion always was? Although these things represent polarities, the two opposing concepts can and must be true at the same time. And that's integration.
I feel like I've spent my whole college career trying to be integrative. Hey, it's not like you can just get a degree in say, Sociology, and count on browsing the job listings for "Sociologist". You have to integrate! On the first day of the Fall 2008 semester, I sat in my Statistical Computing class and overheard all the Computer Science kids talking. And you know what I thought? "Hey, no one does Statistics by hand anymore, I'm gonna need to know how to program!" The next day, I was minoring in Computer Science and walking into four new, very interesting classes what would broaden my scope as a hopeful Statistician. Although, I WOULD recommend taking moderate steps, and not overdoing it like I always do. That semester, sometimes I didn't walk away from my computer screen for what I swear was four days straight!
Has anything like this ever happened to you guys? Have you ever rethought a minor or focus area based on what you're learning in one of your other concentrations?
RYAN--
If I had to come up with a definition for integration I would say it the combination of two or more things. A good example of integration that I came up with is taking a fork and a spoon to come up with a spork. The spork is a combination of both which gives it both qualities into just one object.
In my minor I have definetly
integrated my classes by taking two similar classes in one semester so that it would be easier for me to understand them both at once rather then taking them a different times. Its very important to use integration as a professional because it forces you to use different materials and information and combine it all to get one answer.
So tell us your story. Do you have anything to add to our definitions of interdisciplinarity or integration? Give us an example of how you've used it in school, work, or other parts of your life.
Alright, So here is my take. I grew up in London as i previously stated on my last posting. So automatically many of my views are even slightly different form most. When I arrived at college I thought that I was going to be an Aerospace Engineer. Though, when i realized that I wanted to do more that sit in a cubical the rest of my life, I began to search for different options. I always was told that I have a very strong business mind, so I began to explore the world of business, but I wanted more. I didn't just want to be another businessman, I wanted a more diverse curricular with alternative options. As i began to search for this source of education, I began to realize that I needed more that juts one major, in-fact I would need several! The more I researched, the more I became intrigued with the concept of interdisciplinary. I could finally areas I knew I was very strong in and incorporate it into a field of study designed around me. I have been able not only to integrate my personally passions into my field, but also what I am good at. Interdisciplinary isn't just adding into what you already know in two different areas, its expanding that knowledge and forming it into somthing your passionate about and that is what I have found so far.
ReplyDeleteI believe integration is the key to success in practically every field. While most fields are pretty contained within themselves, most still have a need to incorporate other fields to maximize their potential. Take for instance my minor in Computer Science. With computers being used for practically everything these days, it is essential for a computer scientist to be able write applications than can meet the needs of other fields and also take into account how they use the software. Not all users needs are the same in applications, and if a programmer doesnt take this into consideration, then it could be easy to write a program that isnt nearly as effective as it could be. The need for integration is partly why I chose business as one of my concentrations. There is so much demand for software in the business world, that being able to write your own could be an invaluable tool.
ReplyDeleteClaw, I agree with you whole heartedly, it is very true that, especially in Programing, having multiple disciplines is extremely important. If I remember correctly, you stated that you were a football player, and being able to not just incorporate that into your major as well as your other interest will be very beneficial for you in the long run.
ReplyDeleteHello everyone! To me integration is everything. How are things to work if you don’t make a combination of ideas, objects, and/or skills? It’s like putting together a bowl of cereal. You need your bowl, cereal, milk, and spoon. Simple yes but without the cereal it wouldn’t work and without the bowl it would be a mess everywhere. The bowl is what holds together the concept “a bowl of cereal”.
ReplyDeleteIn my areas of study I am currently taking a basic Marketing Class, Advertising, and Anthropology along with this cornerstone class. I chose to take the classes together, as well as, help me understand each one at the same time. So far it is working. I am glad I have integrated my classes it has benefited me a lot.
It is very important to use integration in any aspect of life especially as a professional.
You are then able to use different resources and skills to make one great solution. The more integrated techniques you use the more you are able to create and develop solutions in anything you do.
Ryan - I loved your spork! Where can I get one? Just kidding but it was a great analogy on integration.
ReplyDeleteClaw- I think you are on the right thinking path with your software and business ideas and the demand you see in the world for the two. What area of business are you interested in? Have you started to create your own software? I swear I always come up with ideas and have no idea how to turn my ideas into reality. That’s one reason why I am going back to school and chose to integrate my areas of interest and major in Interdisciplinary Studies.
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ReplyDeleteTo me integration is a very important trait in todays business society. Being able to integrate or in another sense adapt to new situations could be the difference of keeping your job or loosing it. Especially in the tough economy today most people can't afford to take a step back. Integration is sort of like surviving, what I mean by that is if you are faced with a life and death situation your going to find a way to survive. Well if you take that same attitude to your everyday job I guarantee you will not be denied success. For me it's no different when it comes to my job and what I want to do when I graduate. As I posted last week I want to be a college football coach and be a great offensive line coach. But in order to become the best I will have to know the ins and outs of the game, and I'll have to learn not only the responsibilities of the offense but also the defense. It would be in my best interest to integrate in this area because it will help me become a more all around coach and technician of the game. My story and job description may be a little different from the others posts but I feel you can still integrate the in the same ways to be the best you can be.
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ReplyDeleteSorry about having to post it and delete it I started writing from my friends computer and I forgot to sign him out and sign me in. Then I accidentally posted mine twice.
ReplyDeleteNicole, I liked what you said about how integration can be used in any areas of our lives, I totally agree with you. And I was wondering what you were thinking about doing when you graduate? the only reason I ask is because those are three very interesting fields of study.
ReplyDeleteHey Nick,
ReplyDeleteI still am not sure! I don't want a 9-5 every day I know that much! My dream job would be to travel the world and help communities in education, structure, and bring a smile to their lives. I want to do so many things in my life time. That is why I am trying to learn everything from advertising to mechanics.
To integrate is to join or blend something together. Interdisciplinary integration is combining ideas and information to form something new. As our book states, integration must contain three things: the nature of the “new whole,” the activity involved in integration, and the contribution of disciplines.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as though most of my classes this semester are closely related. I learn new things in my Marketing class that have also been taught in my Advertising class. For example, in both classes we learned about the “4Ps,” Product Price Place and Promotion. I learned different ways to integrate the 4Ps within Marketing and Advertising.
The integration of areas that we study is important in terms of academics because we must learn how to integrate knowledge and the different areas that we are studying. It is also important to learn how to integrate other areas of study within our own. In professional and personal developing, we must have an integrative mind-set.
I believe my areas/minor can be better integrated by looking and understanding all of the different fields within each area and how they can relate to one another.
Kelly Slaton