Transdisciplinary learning

Question 1:
After reading about transdisciplinary learning and the role of subjects, post your
reflections here by replying to this message.
• What does transdisciplinary learning look like in your classroom
currently?
• How do you know that transdisciplinary learning is taking place?
• What needs to change as you develop an upcoming unit of inquiry?
• How will you implement the changes in collaboration with your team?
Question 2:
Mario: In my role working across the early years and lower elementary, I
want to understand how best to develop the key concepts into learning and
teaching in my music and dance classes. How do I use key concepts in
music and dance learning and teaching?
Here is the example (Do not copy):
Transdisciplinary theme:
How we organize ourselves
An inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the structure
and function of organizations; societal decision-making; economic activities and their impact on
humankind and the environment.
Key concepts:
Causation, change and connection
Related concepts:
Consequences, impact, transformation, growth and Systems
Central idea:
People have the power and right to make change.
I was thinking that when we do this UOI in my grade we are talking about how people have the
power and right to make changes in government, but that the central idea could even become
broader to “People have the power and right to make change” to allow for greater connectivity to
all subject areas and further critical thinking and investigating for students.
I came up the related concepts by going back into the reading and thinking about what part of the
key concepts would lend themselves to investigate the central idea further. Consequences and
impact both have to do with people challenging pre-existing systems and functions and what this
challenge leads to. Growth and transformation follow the process through which the change
occurs and systems are the places the change is happening whether it is dealing with a larger
system like the government or a smaller system like a school club.
After reading the Sharing PYP Blog post I thought about how ways this central idea could then
transcend into subject areas to allow for transdisciplinary learning. For example:
Math- In 5th grade when we change decimal fractions I talk about numbers having the power and
right to change place value based on the operations chosen.
Literacy/Social Studies- American revolution, civil war, civil rights
Writing- Opinion writing (students have the power and right to make change through written
communication and research of a global/local issue)
P.E.- Changing the defensive play on a basketball or football team to better defend against the
opponents
Music- Artists fighting for causes through their music or musical notes making a change to create
new sounds and genres of music