Pedagogy and Professional Development

It Started with Puccini: A Separate but Interdisciplinary Learning Project

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Abstract

Interdisciplinary teaching may well be considered the norm on today's college campuses. Faculty from three academic programs located at a small Western Region university joined forces to accomplish a common goal; provide students with an interdisciplinary learning opportunity with limited resources. This interdisciplinary project brought together faculty and students from apparel design, engineering, and music, and it all started with two one-act Puccini operas. Students from the three different programs had limited contact with one another and faculty outside of their own program. However all were exposed to one another's discipline in a way that led to greater critical thinking skills. Engineering students identified a problem that their expertise might help solve. Opera students gained a better understanding of other disciplines contributions to preforming arts. Design students demonstrated a greater understanding of their connection to STEM and the role appearance plays in creating and defining a personality in the performing arts.

How to Cite:

Iiams, E., Meyer, S., Pfund, C. & Odom, E., (2017) “It Started with Puccini: A Separate but Interdisciplinary Learning Project”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 74(1).