Interdisciplinary Thinking for Schools

Interdisciplinary Thinking for Schools: Ethical Dilemmas MYP 1, 2 & 3 is not your average textbook resource. Innovative ethical design projects illustrated with spectacular artwork will connect students to exciting and purposeful learning. Rich primary research includes interviews with the following visionaries: Alberto Alessi, Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, Dr. Jane Goodall, Jared Della Valle and the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation.

The interdisciplinary units have been written with a focus on creativity, critical thinking and exploration of embedded ethical dilemmas. Our strategies support the growth of an innovative and student-centered curriculum to generate real world, sustainable solutions to problems in keeping with the IB MYP philosophy.

About the Authors

Meredith Harbord (Ed.D.) is an international educator who has worked in education for over 30 years with an interest in curriculum. She is an adjunct professor for State University of New York at Buffalo (International Graduate Program for Educators) as well as a consultant for Core 21 Education Services US. Meredith was originally a secondary art and craft teacher from Melbourne before travelling overseas to teach in Brunei Darussalam, UK and the Sultanate of Oman. Her interest in middle years design deepened through her experience of the International Baccalaureate education system.

Merediths doctoral dissertation focused on MYP design and through this work an interest developed to embed ethical dilemmas into design curriculum. Her educational philosophy advocates that learning experiences should be fun.

Sara Riaz Khan is an educator and artist. Teaching MYP design, she was inspired by the idea of "responsible" design and its impact on student learning. She established a MYP student group, raising whole school awareness about the environment. Saras engagement with creative ways of thinking developed her interest in making connections between curriculum and real-world issues. As an arts educator, Sara has taught MYP art, been an artist-in-residence and held student workshops supporting diversity.

Most recently, Sara was a panellist at a London Design Festivals event "People and Planet over Profit" in 2019. A practicing visual artist, Sara has exhibited internationally since 2004, focusing on nature, transformation and a common humanity. Her background in this field includes research, gallery work, administrative support and exhibition tours.