Elsbeth Spelt is defending her PhD thesis on October 26, at 11:00hrs in the Aula of Wageningen University, Generaal Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen, the Netherlands. The thesis describes an application of the constructive alignment theory of Biggs and Tang and the learning theory of Illeris to advance the current scientific understanding on teaching and learning of interdisciplinary thinking in higher education. The developed conceptual framework shows aspects of teaching and learning of interdisciplinary thinking that may need to be taken into account by teachers in higher engineering education. Further research and implications are provided to improve education on interdisciplinary thinking. The thesis is available online: http://www.my-thesis.nl/spelt.html
Publications related to the thesis:
Spelt, E. J. H., Biemans, H. J. A., Tobi, H., Luning, P. A., & Mulder, M. (2009). Teaching and learning in interdisciplinary higher education: A systematic review. Educational Psychology Review, 21(4), 365-378.
Spelt, E. J. H., Biemans, H. J. A., Luning, P. A., Tobi, H., & Mulder, M. (2010). Interdisciplinary thinking in the agricultural and life sciences higher education. Communications in Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences, 75(1), 73-79.
Spelt, E. J. H., Luning, P. A., Van Boekel, M. A. J. S., & Mulder, M. (2015). Constructively aligned teaching and learning in higher education in engineering: What do students perceive as contributing to the learning of interdisciplinary thinking? European Journal of Engineering Education, 40(5), 459-475.
