By Lindsay Norman/ reporter
NE Campus’ STEM Future Forward offered students a look at different approaches to problems in the world while having a positive outlook on the future.
“We are no longer stuck in class and limited,” sciences and technology divisional dean Charlene Cole said. “We have a multidisciplinary approach for learning and want to prepare students for jobs that do not exist yet.”
The competitive attribute behind the movement is to get students to start thinking as teams with creative minds. Cole wants the students to question the “what ifs” and use problem-solving skills to shape the operation of society’s future.
“We must communicate results effectively,” she said. “Thinking critically needs foundation. We need to know the concept behind what we’re learning, not necessarily worry about memorizing vocab.”
Multidisciplinary learning is not compartmentalized. It has two parts: intra and inter. Intradisciplinary includes chemistry, biology and physics whereas interdisciplinary involves arts, sociology, history and similar subjects. The future forward concept aims to expand the student’s mind to understand that all subjects connect.
Just because a student chooses a degree in art does not mean they cannot grasp the concept of biology or aren’t smart, Cole said.
“Stop being critical of others’ chosen areas of study and bring it together in brainstorming,” she said.
Cole intertwined a brainstorming experiment for guests to prove minds from different backgrounds of study can contribute various solution outcomes to solve a problem students could face in their careers.
Cole said she is currently planning a new communications lab for group interaction among students and implementing the learning concept.
“Silos do not work,” she said. “We need to collaborate and examine the impact of technological innovation.”
During a Q&A session, student development and educational support services vice president Magdalena de la Teja said she has researched current methods to excel for the future.
“I have found that it is not what you know,” she said. “It is what can you do with what you know.”
