Interdisciplinary Project Research Articles

Juntos más lejos: una experiencia de aula cooperativa en grupos de investigación

This paper stands up in active methodology in a primary education classroom: cooperative learning. An interdisciplinary and multilingual project has been developed in the third year of this educational stage that it is named “Traveling in time”. This didactical experience is supported by a cooperative technique called research groups. It is used as base for learning the content of different subjects, to achieve the objectives and develop the key competences stablished on the curriculum. Once implemented, it was concluyed that offers substantial advantages with respect to traditional methodology. Boosts the acquisition of social, linguistic and cognitive skills while it instils values such as respect and tolerance, leaving aside competitive and individualistic learning

Cocreación e interdisciplinariedad en comunidad: el jardín centrado en la naturaleza

The Universidad de los Andes leads sustainable initiatives such as the nature-centered garden in the Caja de Música building. This interdisciplinary project integrates biology, ecology, and regenerative gardening to restore urban ecosystems and promote biodiversity. It prioritizes native, endemic, and naturalized species, creating functional microhabitats for birds, insects, and other local organisms. In addition, it acts as a living laboratory, fostering research and spaces for environmental education. Designed collaboratively by students, faculty, and staff, this garden symbolizes the institution’s commitment to sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and the harmonious connection between the community and its natural environment.

CHALLENGES AND PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LAWS Nº 10.639/2003 AND Nº 11.645/2008:

This paper analyzes the implementation of Laws No. 10.639/2003 and No. 11.645/2008 in the Brazilian educational system, highlighting their advances, challenges, and potential. These laws aim to incorporate Afro-Brazilian, African, and indigenous history and culture content into school curricula, promoting a more inclusive and anti-racist education. The research, which uses a qualitative approach, uses a bibliographic review and documentary analysis to examine examples of good practices, limitations, and implementation strategies. The results reveal specific advances, such as interdisciplinary pedagogical projects, and government initiatives for teacher training and teaching materials. However, significant challenges persist, including institutional resistance, insufficient teaching resources, and lack of preparation of educators. It is concluded that investments in teacher training, expansion of teaching materials, and strengthening of partnerships with local communities are essential to ensure the transversality and effectiveness of the laws. This study contributes to the debate on public education policies and to the construction of a more equitable society.

Potentials and Challenges of Large Language Models (LLMs) in the Context of Administrative Decision-Making

Abstract Large Language Models (LLMs) could facilitate both more efficient administrative decision-making on the one hand, and better access to legal explanations and remedies to individuals concerned by administrative decisions on the other hand. However, it is an open research question of how performant such domain-specific models could be. Furthermore, they pose legal challenges, touching especially upon administrative law, fundamental rights, data protection law, AI regulation, and copyright law. The article provides an introduction into LLMs, outlines potential use cases for such models in the context of administrative decisions, and presents a non-exhaustive introduction to practical and legal challenges that require in-depth interdisciplinary research. A focus lies on open practical and legal challenges with respect to legal reasoning through LLMs. The article points out under which circumstances administrations can fulfil their duty to provide reasons with LLM-generated reasons. It highlights the importance of human oversight and the need to design LLM-based systems in a way that enables users such as administrative decision-makers to effectively oversee them. Furthermore, the article addresses the protection of training data and trade-offs with model performance, bias prevention and explainability to highlight the need for interdisciplinary research projects.

Raman Spectroscopy and Imaging Techniques Applied to Neolithic Artefacts as a Valuable Contribution to the Archaeological Research on Piacentine Sites

Archaeologists and conservation scientists join interdisciplinary projects aiming at the in-depth analysis of artefacts and the resolution of new archaeological issues, overcoming the common limits of mesoscopic observation. The aim of this research is to perform multidisciplinary research, adapting imaging techniques (RTI imaging and 3D photogrammetry) and Raman spectroscopy from their conventional field of application to study and valorise neolithic archaeological findings from Piacentine sites (Emilia-Romagna, Italy). RTI images enable the detection of a comprehensive framework of anthropic and natural traces on the object surfaces to support the hypothesis of the intended usage of artefacts. Combining qualitative and quantitative Raman spectra analysis, the specific lithological characterisation of each fragment is conducted, thereby the understanding of their probable geographic provenance is enhanced. This contributes to the identification of the External Ligurian Units as a possible primary supply area, along with the already known outcrops in the Mont Viso Massif and Voltri Group. Their potential as a powerful instrument for conservation and valorisation has been revealed by 3D models. In fact, they may enrich museum exhibits, enhancing visitors’ experience through interactive engagement and guarantee the examination of artefacts by experts across the globe through online sharing, without the need for transportation and excessive manipulation.

Inteligencias múltiples e inclusión educativa, un reto para el profesorado

The article “Multiple intelligences and educational inclusion, a challenge for teachers” analyzes the challenges and opportunities in the application of the theory of multiple intelligences in inclusive educational contexts. Based on an exhaustive literature review, the study highlights how this theory, proposed by Howard Gardner in 1983, offers a framework for recognizing and valuing cognitive diversity in the classroom, promoting personalized pedagogical strategies. However, its implementation faces significant obstacles, such as lack of specific teacher training, lack of adapted educational resources and resistance to methodological change. The results indicate that the application of strategies based on multiple intelligences promotes equity and improves both academic performance and students' self-esteem. The incorporation of active methodologies and interdisciplinary projects stands out as a promising solution. The article concludes that the transformation to an inclusive model requires institutional and political commitment to ensure continuous training, provision of resources and support for teachers. This integrative approach is essential to respond to the needs of a diverse society and to ensure inclusive and quality education.

Student teachers on stage: collaborative practices and a gender perspective through drama / Futuros docentes en el escenario: prácticas colaborativas y perspectiva de género a través de la obra dramática

Initial teacher education must envisage spaces that provide students with opportunities to experience a collaborative culture during their training, promoting the acquisition of cross-curricular competencies and the comprehension of links between theory and practice, and encouraging the integration of a gender perspective in educational practices. Through an interdisciplinary project in which three subjects of the teaching degree in primary education were involved, students produced a theatrical show for children. Although this type of practice is not frequent in the Spanish university context, the results suggest that implementing projects of this kind provides multiple benefits for the participants. The development of basic and cross-curricular competencies, such as collaboration, teamwork, adaptability, communication and creativity, are underscored. Furthermore, very enriching synergies are created between the different fields of knowledge that favour the development of a holistic and globalized education.

Understanding and Designing Variation in Interdisciplinary Problem-Based Projects in Engineering Education

In various problem- and project-based traditions, interdisciplinarity is part of the definition, and there have been a few conceptualizations of interdisciplinary projects. However, with the increasing application of interdisciplinary projects, it is necessary to develop a more varied understanding. A recent study in a PBL context defines four interdisciplinary project types, and this article aims to develop a conceptual understanding that can inform the design of project types. To design interdisciplinary project collaboration, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of the disciplines involved. In the literature, we identified three major dimensions: knowledge, culture, and approach to learning, all of which play a role in the understanding of problems and collaboration. Furthermore, it is important to understand the move from the disciplinary to the more interdisciplinary project types. In this regard, problem design and team collaboration are chosen areas to exemplify the complexity of this move. As an outcome of this paper, a conceptual framework is developed combining the three dimensions of disciplinary understanding with the interdisciplinary project types. This creates an understanding of what to take into consideration in a design process moving from disciplinary to interdisciplinary projects, especially in the design of problems and interdisciplinary project collaboration.

Refining Established Practices for Research Question Definition to Foster Interdisciplinary Research Skills in a Digital Age: Consensus Study With Nominal Group Technique.

The increased use of digital data in health research demands interdisciplinary collaborations to address its methodological complexities and challenges. This often entails merging the linear deductive approach of health research with the explorative iterative approach of data science. However, there is a lack of structured teaching courses and guidance on how to effectively and constructively bridge different disciplines and research approaches. This study aimed to provide a set of tools and recommendations designed to facilitate interdisciplinary education and collaboration. Target groups are lecturers who can use these tools to design interdisciplinary courses, supervisors who guide PhD and master's students in their interdisciplinary projects, and principal investigators who design and organize workshops to initiate and guide interdisciplinary projects. Our study was conducted in 3 steps: (1) developing a common terminology, (2) identifying established workflows for research question formulation, and (3) examining adaptations of existing study workflows combining methods from health research and data science. We also formulated recommendations for a pragmatic implementation of our findings. We conducted a literature search and organized 3 interdisciplinary expert workshops with researchers at the University of Zurich. For the workshops and the subsequent manuscript writing process, we adopted a consensus study methodology. We developed a set of tools to facilitate interdisciplinary education and collaboration. These tools focused on 2 key dimensions- content and curriculum and methods and teaching style-and can be applied in various educational and research settings. We developed a glossary to establish a shared understanding of common terminologies and concepts. We delineated the established study workflow for research question formulation, emphasizing the "what" and the "how," while summarizing the necessary tools to facilitate the process. We propose 3 clusters of contextual and methodological adaptations to this workflow to better integrate data science practices: (1) acknowledging real-life constraints and limitations in research scope; (2) allowing more iterative, data-driven approaches to research question formulation; and (3) strengthening research quality through reproducibility principles and adherence to the findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) data principles. Research question formulation remains a relevant and useful research step in projects using digital data. We recommend initiating new interdisciplinary collaborations by establishing terminologies as well as using the concepts of research tasks to foster a shared understanding. Our tools and recommendations can support academic educators in training health professionals and researchers for interdisciplinary digital health projects.

THE MECHANISMS FOR DEVELOPING STUDENTS’ MOTIVATION FOR INDEPENDENT LEARNING THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROJECT TECHNOLOGY

This article explores the mechanisms for developing students' motivation for independent learning througheducational project technology. The study highlights the integration of project-based learning methodologies, groundedin theoretical frameworks such as Vygotsky’s social constructivism and Dewey’s experiential learning. The fndingsemphasize the role of collaborative tasks, interdisciplinary projects, and technology in fostering autonomy, engagement,and self-directed learning among students. The research provides educators with practical recommendations forimplementing project-based learning to enhance motivation and independence in various educational contexts.

Short film of the children's audio guide of the Roman Theater Museum of Cartagena, an interdisciplinary and cooperative innovation project at the university.

Short film of the children's audio guide of the Roman Theater Museum of Cartagena, an interdisciplinary and cooperative innovation project at the university.

‘Captivating voices’: evaluation of a patient-centred animated video on excessive physical exercise and eating disorders

This project aimed to evaluate the acceptance of a short, animated video addressing excessive exercise within the context of eating disorder (ED) behaviours among diverse target groups, assess its impact...

STEAM's approach to physics: The impact of using LEGO robotics elements on academic achievement in laboratory classes

Using robotics elements in physics laboratory classes is a method to implement the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) approach. This study aims to identify the prerequisites and features of using the LEGO EV3 set (LEGO Mindstorms series from the robotics designer) in laboratory classes in teaching physics. Methods of system analysis using keywords and constructivist research methods were used for articles published in high-ranking journals during the study. A pedagogical study was also conducted in physics laboratories to assess the effectiveness of LEGO robotics elements in the implementation of interdisciplinary STEM projects. The pedagogical study involved 167 students (85 students in the control group and 82 students in the experimental group). During laboratory classes, students in the experimental group were taught using the LEGO EV3 set which allows them to create simple and complex mechanisms using a programming language. A written control work was used which was evaluated on a 10-point system as a means of collecting data. The effectiveness of LEGO robotics elements was assessed using a differential analysis of pre-and post-training scores based on the t-test. Scores after the educational process were in the experimental group (x = 7.6) while scores before were in the experimental group (X = 5.004). The results of the study showed that the use of LEGO robotics elements in STEM-based laboratory classes has a positive effect on the development of educational achievements.

Nurturing Creativity in Indian Design Education: Insights and a Conceptual Mind Map

This study explores the perspectives of design educators in India on creativity as a critical skill in higher education, particularly in the context of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Analyzing data from 131 educators who participated in a Faculty Development Program (FDP) focused on creativity, the research assessed the current state of creative exploration, interdisciplinary collaboration, and inclusivity in educational institutions. It identified significant gaps and proposed actionable strategies for improvement. A comprehensive mind map was also developed, integrating cognitive strategies, techniques, and traits to enhance creativity among educators and students. While 63% of educators regard creativity as essential, 30% believe their institutions lack sufficient creative thinking tools. While strong support exists for interdisciplinary collaboration (80.2%) and inclusivity (93.1%), 11% of educators report inadequate opportunities for creative exploration. The study emphasizes the need for enhanced training programs to improve educators’ proficiency with creative tools, the integration of design thinking and problem-solving methodologies into curricula, and the promotion of interdisciplinary projects to foster collaborative learning environments.

Study Protocol MEDIMIG: Improving MEDical Decision-Making in MIGrant Populations Within a Super-diverse Society: Challenges and Legal Opportunities

Background: European society is becoming increasingly diverse due to high levels of migration. Persons with a migration background, especially those from non-western countries, may experience significant challenges when they seek medical care. Some of the main issues arise in the context of medical decision-making (MDM), where cultural preferences for close family involvement may be difficult to reconcile with the western model of medicine, as enshrined in health law and medical deontology. Aim: In this study we aim to shed light on the preferences of both patients and GPs regarding information disclosure and MDM responsibility, while also exploring how these preferences can be accommodated within the existing legal framework. Design: This study is multidisciplinary and brings together state-of-the-art expertise in health sciences, medical sociology, and health law. Methodology: A transversal research design and a tailored medico-socio-legal research methodology will be applied. The project uses a mixed-methods design, combining desk research and quantitative (factorial survey with hypothetical vignettes) and qualitative (focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and nominal group method) research methodologies. The research team will jointly review the results from the three perspectives, by using multiperspective qualitative methods. Discussion: This study is the first comprehensive and interdisciplinary research project on medical decision-making in patients with a migration background undertaken in the European context, bringing together state-of-the-art expertise in health sciences, medical sociology, and health law.

Learning from online hate speech and digital racism: From automated to diffractive methods in social media analysis

There has been a dramatic surge in uses of big data analytics and automated methods to detect and remove hate speech from social media, with these methods deployed both by platforms themselves and within academic research. At the same time, recent social scientific scholarship has accused social media data analytics of decontextualizing complex sociological issues and reducing them to linguistic problems that can be straightforwardly mapped and removed. Intervening in these debates, this article draws on findings from two interdisciplinary projects, spanning five years in total, which generated comparative datasets from Twitter (X). Focusing on three issues that we identified and negotiated in our own analysis – which we characterize as problems of context, classification and reproducibility – we build on existing critiques of automated methods, while also charting methodological pathways forward. Informed by theoretical debates in feminist science studies and STS, we set out a diffractive approach to engaging with large datasets from social media, which centralizes tensions rather than correlations between computational, quantitative and qualitative data.

Captivating objects and the taste of performance: probing the affects of scientific objects

This paper describes a series of experimental set-ups in Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, the Dutch National Science Museum in Leiden, dedicated to probing the affects of scientific objects. These set-ups are part of an interdisciplinary research project centring around the issue of how to present and engage with immaterial or complex science technologies. This research combines two fields of expertise: curatorial practice in a science museum and scholarship in dramaturgy and scenography. It probes the potential of affect, understood as the capacity to affect and to be affected, while finding inspiration in new materialist theory. By using dialogue next to discursive argumentation, the paper discusses some questions and issues that were raised by these experimental set-ups and proposes that a focus on affect and materiality – thinginess, in brief – can inspire the collection and presentation of scientific objects. Attending to thinginess can expand the curatorial agenda and asks for scenographic strategies to support this.

Kårebolssätern and other shielings - the emergence and development of Swedish transhumant pastoralism

Transhumant pastoralism, characterized by the seasonal movement of livestock, has been a traditional practice in various forms globally for millennia. The Scandinavian shieling system—specifically, the Kårebolssätern site—exemplifies this practice, where designated areas provide grazing and dairy processing facilities. However, many of these systems, including Kårebolssätern, have faced abandonment or decline, primarily due to modernization and industrial forces. An interdisciplinary research project compared Kårebolssätern’s history to other shielings in Sweden. The study utilized various methodologies, including pollen analysis, archaeological mapping, and historical documentation, to trace human impact and land use, indicating shifts between grazing and cereal cultivation. Findings demonstrated that Kårebolssätern had significant early cultivation of barley and hemp, and by the 13th century, its use intensified amidst changes in local agricultural conditions. Four chronological phases regarding the emergence and development of Swedish shielings over two millennia were detected. The results offer insights into the adaptability of shielings amidst socio-economic transformations. As modern pressures threaten the remaining shielings, preserving their historical significance and adaptive strategies may provide pathways for their future survival. The study ultimately highlights the resilience of pastoral practices within evolving landscapes.

Researching the Principles of Tools for Developing Learners' Functional Literacy Through the Implementation of STEM Technology in Biology Lessons

One of the key concepts in this article is the use of distinctive features in biology lessons. The concept of "STEM education" has been introduced, and methods for developing students' research skills have been implemented. Experiences of applying global trends and approaches in various countries were analyzed. The advantages of technologies in the current education program were evaluated. Examples of interdisciplinary educational projects introducing students to STEM technologies in biology lessons were provided. Research was conducted among school students using STEM technologies. Reviewing the development of STEM in Kazakhstan, collaborative studies were carried out with prospective biology teachers from universities at Almaty Secondary School No. 176. During biology lessons, the 5E teaching cycle method was used as the basis for implementing STEM in biology lessons.

Emerging Trends and Gaps in Academic Research: A Bibliometric Study of Economic and Administrative Sciences at UNTRM

The objective of this research was to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the scientific production of the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences of the Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas (UNTRM), identifying emerging trends and thematic gaps. The study had a non-experimental design and a quantitative-descriptive approach, reviewing 786 documents from the Scopus database until June 11, 2024, and 379 theses published in the faculty until December 31, 2023. The results show a concentration in traditional lines of research such as taxation, local economy, and organizational management, which contribute to regional development. However, significant gaps were identified in emerging areas such as circular economy, green finance, and the use of advanced technologies (artificial intelligence and big data). These topics are fundamental in the global agenda and require greater interdisciplinary attention. It was concluded that it is necessary to diversify the lines of research and promote interdisciplinary projects, aligning scientific production with global trends and enhancing their regional and local impact. Received: 11 October 2024 / Accepted: 20 December 2024 / Published: 05 January 2025