PPT presentation based on research done for TCC Online conference, slightly altered, edited, made palatable for Austin, TX 2011 Nisod.

1. Just think!Transdisciplinary consilienceconstructs learning across disciplines 1 KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning

2. Constructivist learning & consilience Constructivism: Learners “build” worlds Constructivism: Teachers guide students Consilience: All use curiosity, abstraction, math Consilience: All understand each other, the world KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 2

3. Transdisciplinarity Creating inclusive worldviews Conceiving individuals’ views Sharing a perspective en groupe Overarching & pluri-generating KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 3

4. Consilience, transdisciplinarity, and… … divergent thinking sharing culturally-generated views using language, culture, math exploiting, e.g., “Humanities 2.0” KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 4

5. Three integrated concepts & a result Transdisciplinarity Consilience Divergent thinking Result: Creativity! KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 5

6. Creativity: 8 qualities Fluency Flexibility Originality Elaboration Visualization Transformation Intuition Synthesis KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 6

7. Fluency A definition: Quick, smooth flow, flux Examples: In language, phonemic awareness In math, number sense A result: Unrestricted higher-order thought KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 7

8. Flexibility A definition: Ability to conceive the “other” Examples: In math, “adaptive strategy choice” In language, learning to reason like another A result: Cognitive plasticity KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 8

9. Originality A definition: Generation of novel ideas Examples: In engineering, new concepts In social science, creative problem-solving In language, poetry A result: Useful, practical outcomes KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 9

10. Elaboration A definition: Addition of detail Examples: In language, circumlocution In STEM, fine-tuning with details A result: Openness KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 10

11. Visualization A definition: Seeing with the mind’s eye Examples: In psychology, guided imagery In STEM, pattern, symmetry, order In language, painting word pictures A result: Shared imagination KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 11

12. Transformation A definition: Alteration retaining core meaning Examples: In language, questions or imperatives In chemistry, “off-label” applications A result: Improved neural plasticity KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 12

13. Intuition A definition: Recognizing connections Examples: In math, seeing things as figures In language, sensing the sociolinguistic A result: Effective creative thinking KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 13

14. Synthesis A definition: Creation of a coherent whole Examples: In science, chemical & biochemical reactions In academe, transdisciplinarity A result: “Self-directed” learning KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 14

15. Creativityqualities in Language Fluency: flow of sounds into patterns Flexibility: utterances fitting contexts Originality: the novelty of it all Elaboration: customization, explanation Visualization: picture-painting in words Transformation: synonymy Intuition: future, conditional expression Synthesis: summing-up, distillation KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 15

16. Transdisciplinary consilience everywhere Filling in the spaces between disciplines Examining in complementary ways Producing dynamic tension Jumping together KAWatson, Coastline Distance Learning 16