Happy Friday! As we move into our next topic this week, the
conversation changes focus onto Interdisciplinary in the real world.
At this stage you may be focusing on Interdisciplinary as it
relates to your areas and education. Consider some of the tasks or hobbies you
may have outside of school. Do you see any Interdisciplinary traits in the
things you do on a regular basis? Things like extracurricular activities, job
duties may all have Interdisciplinary characteristics. Do you know anyone who
works in an Interdisciplinary profession?
As you move forward in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program
it’s a great idea to check in with yourself from time to time on where you want
to go after graduation. Personally, after the Cornerstone class it was easy for
me to get lost in my areas. I started to have a “check-in” with myself each
semester to track where my progress was, where I wanted to go (and this changed
a few times in my case) and finally what I would need to do to achieve my after
graduation goal. By thinking of your progress in a real world way it may help
you focus or alter your studies to be more successful upon completion. A good
way to get a little insight into how your interests and skills may best serve
you in a career field would be to take a personality/career test like the
Keirsey Temperament Sorter. Take the test at
http://www.keirsey.com/default.aspx. Were you surprised at the results?
For the assignment this week give an example of how you are
integrating your disciplines, or ways you could integrate them (if you’re not).
Alternatively, give a few examples opportunities (personal or professional)
that can help you increase your interdisciplinary. Your answer should be 1-2
paragraphs in length as well as a reply to one of your classmate’s posting.
Have a great week!
Nikki, Edison, Heather, Kristin, Rachel, Rikesh, Susanne and
Victoria
The Kiersey Temperment Sorter scored me as a “Guardian”, and I am not surprised by this. The Guardian description correlated with my own thoughts of myself. It was very complimentary in noting my kindness, loyalty, and dependability. I agreed with some of the faults it mentioned as well. For example, my hesitation with “winging it”, or my affinity for being cooperative as opposed to taking on leadership. These are qualities I should work on improving to benefit my career aspirations.
ReplyDeleteI apply my interdisciplinarity daily at my serving job. Juggling health codes and standards to customer service and hospitality requires knowledge of all areas and integration. I must also integrate my work knowledge with my academic knowledge in order to do well in both areas, and make time for every aspect. I integrate my science major with my health minor through application. My Life/Biomedical and Physical Science Major has given me a good science background, but the Health Science minor has allowed me to apply that background on a more personal/patient perspective. The integration has made it more relatable and useful. My future mother-in-law has an interdisciplinary profession at a water softener company. She sometimes does secretary work, and sometimes does sales work so integrating her knowledge of the product with her knowledge of sales techniques along with her organizational and communication secretarial skills is important. An academic opportunity to increase our interdisciplinarity is participating in the research conference. The knowledge it takes to conduct your research along with the presentation and communication knowledge it takes to explain your research to people of different backgrounds takes a great amount of interdisciplinarity.
Thanks,
Bethany Moore
I think you made a very key point about integrating different aspects of your life that are both formal and informal. I completely agree that it is very important to integrate your work life and academic life. I believe people that are able to master this are able to best accomplish their goals and excel in both areas. This is also a key part of being interdisciplinary. I also liked that you mentioned that participating in research is and great way to integrate your areas of concentration. This example was particularly motivating for me because I am hoping to participate in some research before I graduate.
Delete-Randi Owen
Thanks Randi! Research Conferences are every spring on campus. That is a great way to get to know research currently going on and get ideas for what kind of research you would like to do. There are always professors looking for eager students to do research at these conferences. You can also ask other students how they approached beginning their research, and how they completed it, presented it, and how it came to end up at the research conference. I really believe research is one of the best ways to integrate different disciplines, and gain experience and knowledge. Good Lucck in your future endeavors!
Delete-Bethany Moore
I am integrating my disciplines of Communications, Life Sciences, and Entrepreneurship through volunteering at the SPCA animal shelter. The sciences are involved when I work with the animals. I need to be knowledgeable about the different breeds, temperaments, and vaccines. I also need to be able to recognize when an animal is sick and take the necessary steps to get that animal care. I am using my communication skills when I work with the potential adopters and try to match them with their ideal pet. This is very important because if we are not communicating well, the animals will more than likely not get adopted. Also I am integrating my entrepreneurship minor because when you become a volunteer you learn about many different aspects of the organization. I will work in many different areas at the shelter and this will give me a good idea of how the business is run.
ReplyDelete-Randi Owen
Thanks Randy! I have also volunteered at the SPCA and found it to be a really enjoyable, enriching experience. This also seems like a great way of applying what you are learning in school to actual customers/patients. It's a great example of interdisciplinarity as well! Is this volunteering relevant to your future goals or just for your enjoyment? Either way, I shows what a caring, compassionate, dedicated person you are which is important in any field.
Delete-Bethany Moore
Thats a great integration of your two different areas of study! Are you studying to become a vet?
DeleteAccording to the Keirsey Temperament Sorter report summary, my personality trait is that of a Guardian. As a guardian, I take pride in being trustworthy, and serving and preserving vital social institutions. The report identified that I’m serious when it comes to my duties and responsibilities, whether family, community, school, church, hospital, and business; absolutely true. Moreover, I am a down-to-earth practical person who works with others and works cooperatively in a team to get the work done. But, guardians are uncomfortable with risk taking or “blazing new trails,” not sure on this one. In short, guardians are meticulous; they are the peace keepers and maintain equilibrium. The description of a guardian personality trait provided by Keirsey is for the most part accurate for me and found that it highlighted more of my strengths, than weaknesses.
ReplyDeleteKerline Leonard
I like these personality tests. It's interesting to see how you will be scored. I took the test and found out that I am apparently an Idealist. I like to work with people and I am concerned with personal growth and development. I suppose that is all true. I love to be around people all the time really and one of the reasons I even went to college is because I wanted to grow as a person. I just think these are interesting. Hope you are enjoying the class.
Delete-Travis Burnett
Kerline!
DeleteI got guardian as well! I found the test interesting, but am taking the results "with a grain of salt". Do you feel this test acurrately measured your potential for your future aspirations? Do you think a test like this is even applicable to a person's future aspirations? I thought about the results when I think about opening up my own dental practice when it stated "uncomfortable with risk taking". That is true, but doesn't mean I won't deal with a bit of discomfort for professional or personal gain.
-Bethany Moore
Bethany,
DeleteI also scored Guardian. I don't feel the test was 100% accurate. I don't take these tests too seriously, just helpful insight to figuring myself out. It made us sounds like we're all Dudley Do-Rights and are afraid to step out of the box. My life proves that I've broken against traditions, especially in my family. Like you said, maybe we're more inclined to swing one way, but it doesn't mean we won't take a leap for something that we feel is worth it.
-Cristina
Cristina, those are great observations, and I agree with you. So, it seems like you relate the test more to your personal life. Do you relate it to professional goals as well?
DeleteThanks,
Bethany Moore
Bethany,
DeleteSo it seems. I do take my work seriously and I do think I am a "guardian" at work because my boss calls on me when she needs something done right. I like to be known as reliable and responsible in my profession.
An issue that is often dealt with in nursing homes is behavioral changes associated with newly admitted residents. Some of these changes may include depression, withdraw, or misconduct. In worst case scenarios elopement from the nursing home may occur. As an Interdisciplinary major in Health Science and Life/Biomedical with a minor in Gerontology and Medical Sociology, I will review the case(s) accordingly from a nursing, gerontology, and health perspective. I will meticulously integrate theories and concepts from these fields of studies to draw a conclusion.
ReplyDeleteThe followings are examples of drawing inferences from different disciplines: From a nursing perspective the resident’s signs and symptoms were indicative of pharmacological adverse reactions and side effects which may or may not explain the tendency of being withdrawn and depressed. As a gerontologist minor, I would postulate that the process of aging is an ongoing phenomenon requiring continual engagement in something meaningful. My behavioral health, life and biomedical, and medical sociology minor background would help in formulating the possibility of early onset of neurofibrillary plaques; neurochemical imbalances such as dopamine; emotional factors due to lack of stimuli from friends and relatives or change in familiar environment. I would summarize that the resident is suffering from a loss of independence, privacy, and self autonomy which will most likely explain the depression, withdraw, and elopement.
Kerline Leonard
That is a wonderful career for an interdisciplinary degree. I would there is a multitude of changes that can occur with an elderly person entering a nursing home. With diverse issues going on someone with knowledge in multiple areas would be beneficial. My elderly grandmother was placed in a nursing home last year and I know she had a difficult time adjusting. It is nice to know that there are professionals to help in those situations.
Delete- Ashley Vanzant
According to the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, I was scored as a “Guardian” which I would have to agree with. I do try to make sure there that everything runs smoothly at home and with my friends, I feel that I’m the mediator at times. I love being the person that my family and friends can depend on and being thought as the trustworthy friend. I believe strongly in that loyalty, discipline and teamwork get the job done right; being a team player is probably one of my strongest attributes as a worker. Even with all the good a “Guardian” has there are flaws as wells such as not really embracing change when it comes along, I can say that even though there are some changes that are good I don’t really like it. The result that I got from the Keirsey Temperate being a “Guardian” is actually very accurate I would have to say.
ReplyDelete-Erica Vazquez
Some things I think students could do to increase their interdisciplinary are getting a job, doing volunteer work, or working on a group project. At most jobs you are required to do several different tasks that probably fit into a few different disciplines and can help you increase your knowledge in your areas of concentration. However, even if your work mainly focuses on one area, you are still able to observe other people doing different task which will help increase your knowledge of that area as well. Volunteering is another good idea because it is very simple to get started doing and volunteers are very often required to do a wide range of jobs that may even switch from day to day. Also just simply engaging in a group project will help increase your interdisciplinary because you have to work with many different types of people and you never know what may come up.
ReplyDelete-Randi Owen
Randi-
DeleteI would agree that getting a job, volunteer work, and group projects are ways to increase integrating interdisciplinary. I know at my job I have to know about several different areas: electronics, communication, marketing, accounting, and organization. Having study different disciplines has been beneficial. I am always finding was to incorporate my knowledge to help me in the different areas of work. I have found that my way of looking at things has changed, I have different perspectives. I can attack a situation with at different angles. When we have serious situations at work brainstorming or working in groups seems to be the most effective. Working in groups is an everyday way to increase interdisciplinary thinking or skills.
- Ashley Vanzant
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCurrently I'm not really integrating my disciplines. I suppose my two areas of study, health science and physical science, go hand-in-hand at times, but I am not doing anything in particular to integrate them. I have a music minor, and I chose that not to integrate it into my other studies but because I have such a passion for music that I did not want to lose that part of my life while I was preparing to go to medical school. Ways that I could integrate at least the health science and music minor would be to maybe get a group together and go to a nursing home and perform for the residents there. I used to do this with my church when I was younger. Music has been shown to have a therapeutic effect on people therefore increasing the overall health of an individual albeit it be more mental than physical.
ReplyDelete-Travis Burnett
Hi Travis,
DeleteMusic therapy, as an alternative to pharmacological substance,is a growing branch of the medical field. Currently, integrating music in the operating room to help reduce anxiety in pre-operative and post-operative surgery is becoming an option for patients. Since you are preparing to enter medical school you may want to research the many different ways the medical field is integrating music in patient care and treatment. According to Music Applied (http://www.musictherapy.cc/page7.html)medical therapy can be found in surgery, L&D, pediatrics, and oncology units as a pain distraction mechanism.
Hope this helps in integrating your special talents in your future career. Here are two links on Music Therapy in the OR.
http://www.musictherapy.cc/page7.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15105197
Kerline Leonard
Hi Travis,
DeleteI have heard that music an be very therapeutic for those who are ill, i actually find that it can be therapeutic myself. i think that its wonderful that you can integrate music, which something you are passionate about, with the medical field. I also have to say that i think it's terrific that you use to go to the nursing home and perform to the residents there.
-Erica Vazquez
Travis,
DeleteMore recently music has been used in the medical field to calm patients. They provide many benefits. I read about a study where music was used in surgeries that patients had to be awake for. The doctor's findings showed that the music calmed and soothed patients, not only by noticing the more relaxed appearance on the outside, but also decreased neurons in their brain while in surgery. I could go on and on about different benefits the music provided in this particular study, but there are several. I think you could really go a lot of different ways with music and health science. You can even go in to depth about what particular type of music best relaxes and soothes people. I hope all goes well, good luck!
Spayne Avant
One example that is helping me with my interdisciplinarity is my job. I work in the emergency room and I have to know things about medical science as well as computers technology among other things. My job makes me constantly work on solving problems through an IDS perspective. Something that I used to do personally that I think increased my interdisciplinarity was marching band. I was on the drumline at the University of Florida and I think this works as an IDS activity because part of what your are doing is using the knowledge that you have about music. Another aspect draws on an ability to read charts and know mapping, and another part of this is very physically demanding and requires you to be able to know how to physically prepare yourself for the task at hand.
ReplyDelete-Travis Burnett
I never thought of marching band as an IDS activity, but I guess more goes into it than just sweating and playing your heart out. ER most definitely requires you to multi-task. Knowing how to fill out the paperwork and using the software in a hospital is a whole job in itself. I got the introductory glimpses of working in ER and a hospital setting for a year. SO many charts!
DeleteThis test was interesting. I scored Guardian, which is right and wrong. It reminded me of my good organizational skills and I do pride myself at being hardworking in any of my jobs. I've taken many big, life-altering risks, that were encouraged by blind faith in myself. I don't think the test gave me enough credit for that.
ReplyDeleteBesides being a make-up artist at MAC, I also own two business. Those take risks, you win some and you lose some. I am a Beachbody Coach, helping people all over the country get healthy. That really uses my Health Science and Life science focuses. The anatomy classes I've taken help me understand nutrition and exercise in a technical way. It also requires me to step out of my comfort zone when reaching out to complete stangers. My art degree is utilized at MAC, being an artist and my own make-up business.
I am not integrating my disciplines right now as I could and should. I choose a health major and fitness training minor to integrate together, and picked business as my other major discipline. Business doesn’t really go with my other disciplines except when I choose to open up my own business someday. Ways that I can integrate health and fitness is by setting up a nutritional exercise plan, which I have done I just need to get back to do that; making a nutritional diet with the foods that are healthy and an exercise plan.
ReplyDelete-Erica Vazquez
I am integrating physical science and life & biomedical science and health science to become a Pediatrician. After undergraduate I plan to go to medical school. I am using the both physical science and life & biomedical science to get a better understanding of all sciences. I am also using the two to fulfill my requirements to medical school and help better prepare me for it. I am also integrating health science in because it is necessary for Pediatricians to understand general health care. I believe by integrating my two areas of focus and minor it will give me all the necessary knowledge to being a Pediatrician, and more.
ReplyDeleteI took the personality/career test and the conclusion was that I am a Guardian. After reading the short explanation for that particular personality, I think it fit me very well. I do like to have fun but when it comes to business I know how to get serious and carry out my responsibilities and duties. I am kind, dependable, and trustworthy, which are all traits outlined in the Guardian summary. In addition to fitting my personality, some of the traits are ones I think are important for my future career. A Pediatrician has to be very dependable and trustworthy. I also someday want to own my own practice with other pediatric specialists and the Guardian summary points out that a person with this personality likes to work with other that carry their own weight, and that is what I have always thought of when I think of owning my own practice.
ReplyDelete