Introducing a new Faculty Learning Community: Trans-disciplinary Creativity in STEM Disciplines

This is an invitation to faculty members in programs across MSU to participate in a newly formed Faculty Learning Community (FLC) related to the role of trans-disciplinary creativity in teaching and learning, particularly in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) disciplines. The setting up of this FLC is prompted by an understanding that traditional disciplinary boundaries are fast eroding and the kinds of disciplinary knowledge our students need to develop are changing as well. Specifically, we would seek to explore the role of the arts in enhancing learning in the STEM areas. These ideas of course have significant implications for the design of curricula in order to provide our students with skills and knowledge that allow them to move creatively and flexibly across disciplines.

We see participants in the FLC as engaging in a conversation about these changes, to discuss and design course learning objectives to address these shifts. Furthermore, the FLC discussions can potentially lead to developing approaches that value both within and across disciplinary knowledge.

The FLC would meet once a month at a mutually acceptable time (most probably in a brown-bag lunch format). The goals would be to develop faculty knowledge and expertise in this area, develop a bibliography of work in trans-disciplinary learning, and explore publication and grant getting opportunities.

If you are interested in this, please send an email to Dr. Neeraj Buch (buch@egr.msu.edu) by EOB on 9-Sept, 2011.  Once the cohort is identified I will send out a doodle to set the meeting times.  The first meeting of the group will be scheduled for the last week of September.

Sincerely
Punya and Neeraj

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Punya Mishra
Web: http://punyamishra.com
Blog: http://punya.educ.msu.edu/blog/