The term "polymath" refers to a person whose expertise approaches different subject areas, to rely on complex packages of knowledge for solving problems. Famous polymaths from history include Galileo Galilei, Leonardo da Vinci, Mozart, and Albert Einstein; individuals that have impacted science, arts, humanities, and our society for…

Numerous studies have shown that mathematical knowledge is situational, meaning that students' abilities to transfer and apply skills depends on the conditions in which they were learned (Barab 1999; Boaler 2002, 2016). Given that the real world seldom presents problems that are confined to a single discipline (Barab 1999), it is imperative that…

The significant global challenges faced in the world today require innovative solutions and creative thinking. In traditional postsecondary education, technical programs such as engineering often focus on technical competencies as opposed to creative thinking. However, as industry demands for creative technical employees continue to increase,…

This paper analyses the phenomena of co-existence of competing moral principles in a university merger. In doing so, the paper builds on Boltanski and Thévenot's theoretical framework of orders of worth to account for the ways in which different social actors, both inside and outside academia, actively engage in justification work to solve…

Supporters of K-12 arts education often make the case that when students study music, dance, theatrical performance, and the visual arts, they tend to improve in the academic subjects as well. But, as Lois Hetland explains, that's not the best way to advocate for greater investments in arts instruction. In fact, a careful analysis of a vast amount…

Contribution: Increased understanding of the influence of a project-based multidisciplinary design and innovation course on students' engineering design thinking, specifically regarding problem framing. Background: Entrepreneurship-related education has been offered to engineering and technology students, but its influence has been discussed…

In order to solve word problems, students need to be able not just to read the words but comprehend what they mean. Paul Swan discusses three tiers of vocabulary that need to be included in the pedagogy of mathematics lessons and strategies for classroom practice.

In this paper, we present a novel approach to defining, teaching, and assessing creativity by examining its origins and delineating the processes involved. The rationale for introducing this framework developed from studying existing thinking and questioning the current metrics for measuring creativity, which we posit are unfit for purpose. We…

Teaching and learning about political boundaries in an effective, engaging manner can be enriched through the use of webGIS mapping tools and spatial data. WebGIS enabled tools bring problem solving, critical thinking, and spatial analysis to education. Teaching with GIS is conducive to a multi-disciplinary, problem-solving learning environment…

Systems thinking, interdisciplinary research projects, and creative problem solving are ways to frame modern chemistry curricula to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, teachers, and citizens to use their skills and education to create a sustainable future. By integrating planetary boundaries, green chemistry, and the UN…

We present a preliminary theory of innovation in social work science. The focus of the piece is two case studies from our work that illustrate the social nature of innovations in the science of social work. This inductive theory focuses on a concept we refer to as transformative innovation, wherein two sets of individuals who possess different…

Art and Technology is an interdisciplinary art program at AAU that involves knowledge and methods ranging from the humanities, to engineering sciences. Art and Technology is a hybrid program that combines science and technology with the artistic imagination, and thus combines both artistic and academic methodologies. The main question this paper…

The current industrial revolution demands a revolution on teaching methodologies at all levels, particularly for higher education. Here, we present an efficient model to teach technologies associated with Industry 4.0 (I4.0) in undergraduate engineering courses. The first step was identifying the main skills required for an I4.0 practitioner and…

Academics are increasingly required to balance the expectations of the 'old' academy with a future model of universities as interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary 'problem solvers'. This paper highlights changing expectations of academics in producing alternative research outcomes in collaborative, practice-based research. Through a series of…

The 21st century STEM researcher is increasingly called upon to work collaboratively on large-scale societal challenges. In this setting, disciplinary methods and methodologies may function as starting points, but they lack a focus on the metacognition and inquiry-based thinking required to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize diverse global…