Hello Cornerstone students, we are in the second week of our blogging and we hope you are enjoying it. For this week’s topic, in our blog we should focus on defining and understanding
INTEGRATION.
· What is integration?
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines integration as “incorporation as equals into society or an organization of individuals of different groups”. This of course is in the most literal of terms, but we see integration multiple times in our everyday lives. The computer is an excellent example of how different working parts have come together to form one product which most people utilize every day. What used to be performed by many machines is now performed by one.
Try to think of your own definition of what integration means to you. Also list some other examples of integration and put them in your comments for this week’s blog.
Integrating different disciplines of study into one final product of knowledge is a major component of the Interdisciplinary Studies degree. I have found that my two areas of study have often crossed paths throughout the semesters and have complemented each other with ease. I chose a minor of Spanish. The study of the language is hard to integrate with other genres of study, but in the future it will complement my candidacy in the job market nicely. No matter what I end up doing, I will be able to utilize my skills of the Spanish Language.
How have you integrated your areas/minor? And why is this integration important to the academic and professional worlds, as well as in your own personal development?
If you do not feel you have integrated your areas/minor yet, how do you think it is possible to improve on this?
A recent news story that we found talks about four universities coming together to make an interdisciplinary science program. http://www.hhmi.org/news/nexus20110608.html
How do you see integration in this article, and what makes it interdisciplinary? Comment on this post and share your thoughts. We are looking forward to hearing from you!!
In my opinion, integration means to combine multiple aspects into one functioning thing. I would say a fruit salad is a great way to explain integration. I love all fruits, so instead of having to pick one why not have a fruit salad? Before I changed to IDS major, I was not completely satisfied with my major. After seeing an advisor, I learned that Interdisciplinary studies allows me to study three different areas at the same time. I chose to study Communications, Public Affairs, and a minor in Sociology. I think I have integrated my areas because I want to go to law school (public Affairs) and possibly work with social work cases. I am unsure as to how I can apply my area of Communications. I was thinking to switch one area of study to Modern Languages to learn another language.
ReplyDeleteJess, do you think you can give me your opinion on how I could integrate Communications with my other areas of study??
Kassandra, I know your question is addressed to Jess, and I'm sure she has a great answer for you. I will write you a quick comment offering you my insight as well. One of my areas is communication, and one thing I've learned through the classes is that understanding communication (how to interact with people on a personal level or addressing larger groups), will enhance any other areas you are studying. A good base for communicating can never hurt! Jess probably has better insight on what law schools are looking for.
DeleteThanks Kailee. Initally, I was a bit confused as to how to apply my Communications to my careeer/ personal life. I do plan on playing an active role in my community, being a leader, or maybe even starting my own organization. Communications will help me to develop my people skills, how to deal with people on a personal level, and even large groups of people. Thanks you so much for giving me your insight!
DeleteHey, Kassandra! I just read about your plan on integrating communication with leadership. I think it's a great idea! We need more people who are pro-active in the community. I've done community work before, and there are so many types of people to deal with. I think knowing how to communicate in different levels in the community will help you be a great leader!
DeleteKassandra, we have very similar areas of study and the same goal, law school. I remember the day I decided that IDS would give me the best opportunity to prepare for law school. I think you are going to find that communication integrates with any other discipline. What you know won't matter if you can't communicate with others. Learning a language could help you in law school too, but I wouldn't dismiss the communication aspect too quickly.
DeleteIntegration to me is a kind of mixing different subjects together. An example of integration could be a car. All the parts have to work together to be able to drive your car to work or school.
ReplyDeleteAlso I do not think I have integrated my areas together yet. Psychology and Communications I think can be integrated very well in the workplace. I just feel like in any field you need to be able to communicate well with people. Also I just needed help with learning more communication skills. I think it is possible to integrate my areas I just have not yet figured out how to yet. Does anyone have any advice for me?
ReplyDeleteHi, Kayla Lee. I am a lecturer for about 13 years for Weight Watchers and thought I felt great standing in front of the room conversing, leading a conversation with meetings as large as 80 members and as small as 5 members. I can share that when I took my mandatory speech class my first semester back in school, it was as if I never stood before a group to speak before. It was an eye opener for me as to the type of speaker I was. Tips like eye contact, improving my listening skills, moving less so as to be less distractible are just a few things we focused on. I also really learned a lot from observing other classmates and I do think that now I am more comfortable in front of a group. Don't get me wrong; I have always loved leading the meetings. I have just grown more comfortable when I do it. Feeling more relaxed up there makes me a better leader.
DeleteHi, again, Kayla Lee. I just double checked what your areas of concentrations were: Communication, Psychology, and a minor in Criminal Justice. I do think that if you decide to work with people associated in the field of criminal, whether through dealing with victims or perpetrators, or whether you take the investigative route to come up with answers to the why, how, who, etc, that having good communicating skills between co-workers, victims, victims' families, or perpetrators will help make your job easier and keep the doors open for you.
DeleteThanks Stacey for sharing your story. I am still trying to pin point what I actually want to end up doing. For now I am thinking of doing some kind of work with addictions.
DeleteHi Kayla. I think your areas of study are actually well integrated. Like Stacy said in her post, if you do end up in the criminal justice field you can apply Communications and PSychology in those areas. Working with addictions, psychology will help you to understand how the mind thinks when and under the influence and will help you understand how to deal with people with addictions. I do think you chose three great areas of study.
DeleteHi, Kayla Lee. There are so many different types of addictions out there that the field is pretty open. Just to share, my sister thought she wanted to counsel pregnant teenagers, but ended up working in a methadone clinic. She would never share any direct stories because of confidentiality laws, but she loves her job. She feels so great every time she is successful helping another person change their lives. She took it as a job temporarily, but has been doing it for over 15 years.
DeleteHi Kassandra,
DeleteI changed my major for exactly the same reason. I just felt like I was getting bogged down and I couldn't really see where I was headed, it just seemed like I was taking class after class. After I sat down with my advisor I found out immediately that IDS was what I needed to get into. I Have such a better sense of direction now and I don't have that question any more of "why have I taken that class?" (except for the reasoning that it was req'd.)
When I first changed my major, I was a little unsure about the program but I am finding that there are so many students out there that I have so much in common with!
-Micah O'Steen
To me, integration means intermingling two or more things so that the product is better or different. When I am designing something on my embroidery machine, I can take simple designs and integrate them to form a new, more spectacular design. By integrating veggies into my food, I am creating new dishes while also bulking up my portions in a healthier manner.
ReplyDeleteI have only taken pre-requisite classes so far and have yet to meet any of my requirements within my areas of concentration. I do believe that my areas of concentration (Psychology, Criminal Justice, and a minor in Women’s Studies) will be of help to me both academically and professionally because of the career path I would like to take. Having been such an avid volunteer and had the opportunity to gain experience in the courts, meeting juveniles in trouble as well as those that have been victims, I have a strong desire to help them make positive changes in their lives. I believe that my areas of focus will allow me to gain insight into the understanding of behaviors, actions, and reactions to situations surrounding our youth and help me provide them with positive reinforcement.
Personally, I didn’t realize how much I would really gain even in the introduction to Women’s Studies class. I initially selected it because I was told that the focus would be not only women, but also minorities. I feel like everything I have read so far has struck a cord with me, and now I really think that will be more of a focus. I am volunteering at Pace Center for Girls and think this would be a great career choice hopefully some day. That is a facility where all three areas of my studies will certainly integrate well.
Having read “Collaboration Seeks to Create Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Curriculum,” I can see different examples throughout that relate to integration and interdisciplinary. First, the four universities working together to incorporate the strengths of their majors and develop a curriculum to use together is one example. Another example is that they are going beyond simple tests and assessing their ability to demonstrate knowledge. Taking simple tests is what Brazilian educator Paulo Friere calls the “Banking Method” of education, “where students are like banks and teachers deposit information and withdraw it in quizzes and exams (Women’s Lives, Gwyn Kirk, 3). Having to demonstrate one’s ability means hopefully it will have a longer lasting impact on a student/s. A third point of importance here in relating this to interdisciplinary is that they are working together “collaborating through regular meetings and conference calls to talk about their shared challenges and successes.” Together, the four Universities are creating a new curriculum that can be utilized alone (new, a different curriculum incorporating the best of all the subjects) or within an existing curriculum (being integrated).
Stacey,
DeleteI too have a Women's Studies Minor, and I was not at all prepared for what I had gotten myself into. I had no idea how relevant it would be for my own areas (Behavioral Sciences and Humanities), and was shocked at how much applied to not only those areas, but my belief system in general. I believe you've mentioned that you've only taking Intro to Women's Studies so far, but believe me, with each passing class, you will more and more excited as the minor begins to be the glue that holds your two areas together. That has been my experience, and it seems that with your interests in the PACE Center for Girls, it may very well be yours too!
Hi, Alyssa. I am so glad to meet someone who has taken Women's Studies' classes. Believe it or not, I have gotten more people questioning my decision to take that minor than interdisciplinary studies. I thought about communications, but then after looking at the courses available for WST, I was amazed at how many sounded great, and did overlap with my other areas of concentration.
DeleteDo you have any that you would recommend?
Stacey, I got the same reaction! "Women's Studies?! Why would you want to take Women's Studies? Isn't that for bra-burning feminists? Isn't there equality, anyway?" People always give me a funny look when I say I have a Minor in Women's Studies, but I have absolutely loved my decision, and I chose it on a whim too, because the thought of a minor in some of the other options just made me want to not even go forward with my degree!
DeleteI would definitely recommend any courses taught by Leandra Preston. She always chooses a wide variety of texts that offer a lot of different perspectives on any given issue. I also enjoyed the Family Values/Trends class I took. I think you would probably find that course pretty relevant to your areas, as well as what you're hoping to be able to accomplish by way of career upon graduation.
Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely check out Family Values/trends. Right now I am taking my class with Leandra Preston and the readings are amazing! With each one, I find I need to do further research on the subject, delve a little further into the subject. I was planning on checking out what other classes she teaches.
DeleteReading a few of your responses regarding Stacey's minor reminded me of the odd looks and responses I would get when I was working on my minor in Psychology and took Psychology of Women. Being a male, I got laughed at quite a bit by my friends, and at first I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Once I got into the course, however, it was nothing at all what I thought it would be. I am sure the women's studies minor is a very interesting area of study.
DeleteI thought that the universities creating a whole new curriculum to integrate these disciplines was a clear example of successful integration. Allowing everyone to expand their knowledge and apply new methods to their particular area of study.
Delete-Camilo Echeverri Bernal
I learned of a service learning opportunity today that I am currently in the process of joining. In case anybody is interested I thought I might put it out there, especially for the business or communications majors who are willing to go out there, spread the word, collect donations, and general party planning. It is called "A Prom To Remember" (apromtoremember.org) and is an organization's sole purpose is having a prom for cancer patients. It's a really upscale event at the Ritz-Carlton, including gowns, tuxedos, limos, the works. They are currently looking for help with preparing for their May 11, 2012 prom. It is their third one. This sounded like a great opportunity and has many different ways one can help from the pre-planning stage directly to the day of the event. I'm not sure if this should be shared on this blog, but I thought if anybody needs service learning hours, I would put it out there. I know some classes have that requirement. Check it out.
ReplyDeleteBeing the sports nut that I am, I like to use the analogy of a football team when talking about integration. When it comes to a football team it takes several different parts of the team working together to achieve victory. Without the quarterback you will not have anyone to throw effective passes. Without the receivers you will not have anyone to catch the passes. Without a good offensive line blocking for the quarterback he will have no time to throw the ball. My minor is in coaching and with the experience that I have in coaching you have to be able to integrate players with different personalities and attitudes in order to achieve success.
ReplyDeleteMy 2 areas of study are behavioral and social sciences and Public affairs with my minor in coaching. I am currently in the process of figuring out what I would like to do with these areas of study. I am involved as a coach in Special Olympics as a coach for several sports. I would love to work for the organization in the future. I do know that I would love to work in sports and will figure out a way to do so.
Football teams, are a great example of integration. I don't know why that wasn't coming to mind when I was pondering about this. I know all too well what happens when the team I am rooting for doesn't have all of their areas perfectly integrated, working together as one, it ends in heartbreaking loss that has me singing the blues until the following Sunday. I am right with you in trying to figure out what I am going to do after school, when it comes to using what I have learned in my areas of study. It sounds to me, though, like you will be persuing something that involves coaching on some level.
Delete- Micah O'Steen
Allen,
DeleteFootball teams are a great analogy to integration. Sometimes it is difficult to put an exact definition to the word, but I, in a similar manner, liken it to a choir. Altos, sopranos, and many others aspects coming together to create one beautiful sound.
Micah, thanks for communicating as well! Not everyone has everything exactly figured out for after graduation so just take a deep breath and you'll find the right path :) This course really does open your eyes to the concept of different pieces of a puzzle working together. I have begun to analyze and break down the parts of my day to day life much more since the semester started.
I know it will come eventually. I am really enjoying learning how to incorporate different disciplines together to achieve a goal.
DeleteSports indeed is a great way to show how integration works. I'm a sports junkie myself and been playing volleyball since middle school. When you put it in perspective of teamwork, integration is so much more easier to visualize!
DeleteGood luck on your future endeavors! With the way you put things in perspective I'm sure communicating your concepts wouldn't be a problem.
-Catherine Aboyme
Great analogy, using the football team as an example of integration. A team sport of any kind requires that all of the parts of it-- the players, work together and help one another. In football or soccer, no one individual can defeat the opposing team on his/her own, otherwise it would not be much of a competition. So, to tackle life's problems and disciplinary challenges, one needs to bring other areas of knowledge in order to better address the issues one is faced with, etc.
Delete-Camilo Echeverri Bernal
To me, integration or to integrate is to combine two or more different items, ideas, things etc. to create something new. One of my favorite examples would be a Snicker's bar. Penuts, chocolate, and caramel are all great by themselves but when you combine them you get something truly awesome!
ReplyDeleteIt is much the same when considering the integration of disciplines. Each discipline has its own purpose and ideas but when you combine one with another the product of what is combined has so much more depth and contents.
Up until I began this course, I hadn't really thought too much about how my different areas of study and my minor might overlap or be integrated. Now, after only a few weeks, I can see them in a virtual Venn Diagram.
I see integration, itself, as very important concept in many different lights. It is extremely important in the professional world on an almost daily basis. I work in management and there are many skills that I must use together, at onetime, in order to complete my tasks.
These are just a few of my thoughts regarding the questions posed to us this week. I look forward to any replies than might be generated by my post!
Micah O'Steen
I think the snickers bar example is a really good one. I like all of those things separate but when you integrate all the flavors its even better than what I would of thought.
DeleteSnicker bars are a great example, makes me hungry as well. I am a supervisor at my job and could not agree more with integration being important in management. This has been my first supervisory role and it has been an incredible learning experience.
DeleteAllen Haley
Micha, this is such a fun way to explain integration. Creativity and fun at its best! I guess it's cause I'm such a visual person that I get the idea of what you're trying to convey. Also, I agree that now a days you need to know more than just your specific area to be competitive in the professional world.
Delete-Catherine Aboyme
When I hear the word integration, two words come to mind; combination and collaboration. In order to integrate something one must combine different products. Then, specific elements from each product are pieced together to create a new product. (The same is applied for theories, concepts, etc.)
ReplyDeleteIntegration is like baking a cake. You mix all of the necessary ingredients like flour, milk, eggs, sugar, and stir it up using a large spoon. After the ingredients are mixed, you pop it in the oven. After it bakes, you decorate it with icing and candles to make the cake aesthetically appealing. Without a spoon you couldn't mix the batter, without an oven you couldn’t bake the cake and without candles and icing, the cake wouldn't look appetizing. You see, these entire elements combine AND work together to create a tasty new product!
I integrate my areas (Modern language & letters, Arts) and minor (Mass Communication) in my everyday life beause I understand the importance of effective communication skills in the work force. In addition, I use my areas to facilitate my creative side to entertain others when I write and perform.
Lastly, I thought the article was a great example of integration because each university pulled curriculum from the other and used multiple subjects to create a new program. It is an interdisciplinary approach because the program's four universities' insights and disciplines were combined to create something on a large scale. Each university had something to offer the other.
Morgan,
DeleteThanks for the input!
The cake recipe is a great example of integration :)
So many things in our lives are made possible by a bunch of tiny working parts. When you start to really look for the signs, the possibilities are endless!!!
The reading that we're doing emphasizes being creative and original and the importance of a design in a mundane world full of a million choices for everything! It sounds like you have a great head on your shoulders! Keep up the good work :)
Ooopsies! I meant to put Morgan Ferrell at the bottom! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTo me integration is taking things that were usually separate and putting them together to make something that is more than just the sum of their parts. Webster has it as "to form, coordinate, or blend into a functioning or unified whole" which I think is a really good way to put it and reminds me of the fruit bowl versus smoothie analogy from our course work. I really like this analogy because it helped me understand the meaning of integration. The smoothie integrates all of the fruit into something that has its own unique quality and more than just the fruit bowl. I think one way I could better improve on integrating subjects would be to make sure to consider the unique perspectives of each when solving a problem and not choosing one perspective that I might think has an appropriate solution.
ReplyDelete-Kyle Greaves
Try to think of your own definition of what integration means to you. Also list some other examples of integration and put them in your comments for this week’s blog.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, integration means the bringing together of different parts or pieces to form a cohesive, highly-functional whole.
Other examples of integration would be a computer, or perhaps a salad. Tomatoes on their own, or lettuce, etc, are rather tasteless and do not do much. But when brought together, they compliment one another.
I think I have integrated my areas into my daily life when I blog, or in the discussions I have as well as my thinking. It is important in my professional world, as an aspiring journalist and activist, I need to draw from various disciplines to get points accross, understand peoples' perspectives to better aid them and assist them, etc.
In the article, there's integration in the way the universities are coming together to develop an interdisciplinary curriculum. What makes it interdisciplinary is that they will incorporate new disciplines in the different courses such as more math classes in a Biology course/major, etc.
-Camilo Echeverri Bernal.