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ERIC Number: ED128064
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1976
Pages: 7
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Interdisciplinary Education in a Cluster College.
Butzek, James C.; Carr, Gene
This paper provides a brief overview of Oakton Community College's (OCC) cluster organization, which is believed to foster offering of true interdisciplinary education. OCC is organized into four learning clusters, each of 30 full-time and 40 part-time faculty, 1,500 students, and headed by a dean. Each cluster is semi-autonomous; authority is decentralized, faculty/student participation is emphasized, and a humanistic learning environment is encouraged. In the fall of 1973, OCC offered its first Natural Science/Social Science tandem course, an integrated learning approach whereby two instructors in separate disciplines were brought together as an alternative to traditional programs. More complex efforts have followed. A course entitled "1984" was inaugurated in the fall of 1974 as an extension of the tandem approach. Social Science, Natural Science, and Geography were combined into a course meeting 11 hours per week, with the goal of examining a number of elements of contemporary society from biological, sociological, and geographical perspectives. The systems approach is used to present a variety of topics. Evaluation of students is accomplished through examinations and a term project integrating the three disciplines. Student evaluation of faculty is an integral part of the evaluative process. Although time and energy demands are increased, the OCC staff believes in the interdisciplinary approach. (Author/JDS)
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: N/A
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Oakton Community Coll., Morton Grove, IL.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A