Page 23 - Teaching and learning of interdisciplinary thinking in higher education in engineering

General introduction
Step 4. Synthesis of studies
The development of a conceptual framework
Step 3. Critical evaluation Part of study II
Step 3. Analytical characterization
Study III
Step 3. Critical analysis
Study IV
Step 2. Design of an interdisciplinary learning environment Part of study II
Step 1. Literature review study Study I
Figure 1.4 Overview of the four research steps
The first step is the conduct of a systematic literature review with respect to the teaching and learning of IDT (study I). This review provides the theoretical basis for the second step considering the development and implementation of an instructional design for an interdisciplinary learning environment (part of study II). The second step provides the empirical basis for analysing a self-designed interdisciplinary teaching and learning practice. The third step includes the analysis of this practice from three different angles: in order (a) to critically evaluate the instructional design of the learning environment via student evaluations (part of study II), (b) to analytically characterize student learning processes with respect to learning experiences (study III), and (c) to critically analyse the learning challenges, student strategies, and outcomes of education (study IV). The fourth step includes the synthesis of the conducted studies in order to develop a conceptual framework on the teaching and learning aspects of IDT and to answer the main research question.
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