Interdisciplinary Collaboration in the Classroom

Abstract

This is a case study in response to Charlotte Woods' challenge to examine interdisciplinary work in the classroom environment. In a classroom, collaboration across departments with diverse knowledge bases means establishing shared goals and trust through open communication. This class joined interior design and business students to produce a feasibility study for the Lenawee County YMCA. The goal was to expand the YMCA's membership and update the current facility for better barrier free access. Process: Seven assignments informed the students about diverse topics and build the students into a cohesive team. Students corrected each other's work and each assignment had different team members with different tasks to build trust. Through a process of researching, sharing, writing, and editing two research papers, a cohesive team was developed. Key to moving the project forward was maximizing class time to use strategies to coordinate, inform and motivate student for timely completion of tasks. Outcome: In sixteen weeks, student prepared a sixty page booklet of their Evidence Based Design, location information, and history research, interviews, assessment of the site and 132 responses to the survey sent out to 2,500 members. The booklet concluded with a new marketing plan to encourage younger people to use this facility and program remodeling of the facility to gain more access for everyone.