Advances in technology, coupled with political, economic, and social shifts both nationally and globally have transformed the nature of work and learning. Students are required to demonstrate a range of capabilities. They are required to apply concepts, methods, and language of more than one discipline to explore topics, design research questions, develop skills and solve problems.

This courses promotes interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. Students can learn how to transfer capabilities such as the research process, information management, critical thinking, creativity, effective teambuilding, leadership,and collaborative decision making and will communicate with a diverse range of people.

Students complete an inquiry that has a purpose, product or outcome. They develop the ability to engage with a process, question sources of information, make effective decisions, consider ethical implications, evaluate their own progress, be innovative and solve problems.

This course is suited for students with diverse abilities and learning styles, including students preparing to enter the workforce, as well as those planning to study at university.

The Interdisciplinary Inquiry course is written under The INTEGRATED LEARNING FRAMEWORK 2017: BSSS INTEGRATED LEARNING Framework

Achievement Standards for INTEGRATED LEARNING courses can be found within the Framework.

Courses written under this framework promote interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. Students will learn how to transfer capabilities such as the research process, information management, critical thinking, creativity, effective teambuilding, leadership, collaborative decision making and communicate with a diverse range of people. Courses written under this framework are suited for students with diverse abilities, and learning styles including students preparing to enter the workforce, as well as those planning to study at university.

Communication Inquiry

In this unit, students study modes of inquiry, formulate a question and select the medium for an interdisciplinary inquiry. They develop methods of communication to improve their own work while conducting and reporting on an inquiry. They learn about the theory and practice of communication including ways of communicating findings, such as presentation of data. While the emphasis is on communication, the inquiry incorporates elements of critical thinking, collaboration and creativity/innovation. The inquiry leads to deep knowledge in a defined area as well as transferable knowledge, understanding and skills. Students evaluate their inquiry and reflect on their learning.

Creativity and Innovation Inquiry

In this unit students study the elements of creativity and innovation and apply this learning within their own inquiry. Students learn how creativity and innovation provide methodologies to improve one’s own work.

Students explore different modes of inquiry, how to formulate an inquiry question, select and apply appropriate methodology in conducting the inquiry, and how to evaluate and communicate their process and findings. The inquiry leads to deep knowledge in a defined area as well as transferable knowledge, understanding and skills. Students evaluate their inquiry and reflect on their learning. While the emphasis is on creativity/innovation, inquiries incorporate elements of critical thinking, collaboration and communication.

The Critical Thinking Inquiry

In this unit students study theories and processes of critical thinking such as the laws of logic, different modes of reasoning, identifying, constructing and evaluating arguments, detecting inconsistencies, biases and other barriers to critical thinking. They learn modes and methodologies of inquiry. This knowledge is applied in constructing and conducting an inquiry, solving problems systematically, where evidence is tested. Understanding of Critical thinking provides methodologies to improve students’ own work. The inquiry leads to deep knowledge in a defined area as well as transferable knowledge, understanding and skills. Students evaluate their inquiry and reflect on their learning. While the emphasis is on critical thinking, inquiries incorporate elements of communication, collaboration and creativity/innovation.

Collaboration Inquiry

In this unit students learn how collaboration skills can be practiced and developed for use in different contexts. They study elements such as socio-emotional awareness, giving and receiving feedback, recognising talents, leadership, organisation, conflict resolution strategies, stakeholder perspectives and cultural awareness. Students explore different modes and methodologies in inquiry. These processes are applied in communicating with others in planning and conducting an inquiry which may be a group or individual project. Understanding of Collaboration provides methodologies to improve one’s own work. The inquiry leads to deep knowledge in a defined area as well as transferable knowledge, understanding and skills. Students evaluate their inquiry and reflect on their learning. While the emphasis is on collaboration, inquiries incorporate elements of critical thinking, communication and creativity/innovation.

Independent Study

An Independent Study unit has an important place in senior secondary courses. It is a valuable pedagogical approach that empowers students to make decisions about their own learning. An Independent Study unit can be proposed by an individual student for their own independent study and negotiated with their teacher. The program of learning for an Independent Study unit must meet the unit goals and content descriptions as they appear in the course. Students must have studied a minimum of three standard 1.0 units from this course.

This unit allows for the negotiation of the lens through which the inquiry project will be conducted. Although the project can be viewed through lenses of communication, creativity/innovation, critical thinking or collaboration, the independent study must have a prime focus on a different lens. The unit will develop this lens through further research in methodologies and theories into the lens, as well as applying the learning to the inquiry project. For example, another lens could be intercultural understanding, digital technology or organisation and planning.

The selected skill provides methodologies to improve one’s own work.

Interdisciplinary Inquiry A/T/M  (604 KB)

Interdisciplinary Inquiry A/T/M (315 KB)