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. 2021;67(4):533-549.
doi: 10.1007/s11159-020-09879-2. Epub 2021 Jan 7.

Interdisciplinary education and authentic development

Alberto Ciferri  1 , Angelaurelio Soldi  2
Affiliations

Interdisciplinary education and authentic development

Alberto Ciferri et al. Int Rev Educ. 2021.

Abstract
in English, French

Whereas economists do not traditionally address social harmony, and sociologists or political scientists do not usually tackle economic development, the interaction of social harmony and economic development has recently become an object of intense concern. In their aim to foster evolved rather than uprooted cultural values, the authors of this research note suggest an educational approach to promote the concept and the implementation of what they refer to as authentic development. They propose interdisciplinary courses that include notions of history, sociology and economy. Their methodology is based on two main resources: (1) a textbook providing a broad historical survey tracing the development of 28 nations in the Americas; and (2) analytical parameters related to the extent of social interaction and income generation. Students carry out digital and group research and elaborate the conditions that generate social harmony, economic well-being and a better balance between them. The authors have already piloted their educational approach in four secondary schools in Antigua, Guatemala with 50 students aged 17-19. Most of them are now enrolled at local universities, but the impact of this course on their performance will only emerge over time.

Éducation interdisciplinaire et développement authentique – Bien que les économistes ne se consacrent pas traditionnellement à l’harmonie sociale et que les sociologues ou les politologues ne se penchent pas normalement sur le développement économique, l’interaction entre harmonie sociale et développement économique est depuis peu devenue un sujet de grande préoccupation. Dans leur démarche visant à encourager davantage des valeurs culturelles ayant évolué que des valeurs culturelles déracinées, les auteurs de cette note de recherche suggèrent une approche éducative pour promouvoir le concept et la mise en œuvre de ce qu’ils appellent le développement authentique. Ils proposent des cours interdisciplinaires englobant des notions d’histoire, de sociologie et d’économie. Leur méthode s’appuie sur deux ressources principales: (1) un manuel comportant une vaste enquête historique retraçant le développement de 28 nations des Amériques et (2) des paramètres analytiques liés à l’étendue de l’interaction sociale et la création de revenus. Les étudiants exécutent des recherches numériques et de groupe et élaborent les conditions qui génèrent l'harmonie sociale, le bien-être économique et un meilleur équilibre entre eux. Les auteurs ont déjà expérimenté leur approche éducative dans quatre écoles secondaires guatémaltèques à Antigua, avec 50 élèves âgés de 17 à 19 ans. Si la plupart d’entre eux étudient à présent dans des universités locales, les effets de ce cours sur leurs résultats ne se feront jour qu’avec le temps.

Keywords: authentic development; education; gross domestic product (GDP); interdisciplinarity; social harmony; wealth distribution.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Relationship between F (the extent of social interaction) and G (the extent of income generation). The F=G line represents the ideal balance between the socio-economic parameter (F) and the economic well-being parameter (G). The efficacy of development models is gauged by the separation between the ideal line and the F/G ratios (e.g. x) evaluated with the qualitative approach
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Document regarding the inauguration of the first course offered in Antigua during the second semester of 2017
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Ciferri, A. (Ed.) (2019). An overview of historical and socio-economic evolution in the Americas. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Table of contents and editorial overview retrieved 26 October 2020 from http://www.jepafoundation.org/pdf/An-Overview-of-Historical-and-Socio-ec....

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