High-school teachers' experiences of interdisciplinary team teaching

Kanphitcha Kodkanon, Pichet Pinit
King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand
Elizabeth Murphy
Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada

The purpose of this study is to identify vocational teachers' experiences with interdisciplinary team teaching (ITT). Participants were five teachers from a science and technology-based vocational high school in Thailand. Qualitative data collection involved focus groups, interviews and observations. Findings were grouped into the following categories: teaching across disciplines; supportive and sharing relationships and roles; communication and decision-making; benefits; and challenges. Findings suggest that the interdisciplinary aspect may be achieved through engagement in project-based learning (PBL). The PBL approach can provide both a shared purpose and a framework and guidelines to support teachers' planning. Findings also point to the value of shared decision-making and leadership, and to the need for supportive relationships that take into consideration professional and personal issues. Implications relate to the need for open forms of communication that reflect trust, support and respect. Use of social media to support communication and collaboration should be accompanied by guidelines and rules established in advance by team members.
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Authors: Kanphitcha Kodkanon (corresponding author) is a PhD candidate in the Learning Innovation and Technology program in the Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand. Email: kanphitcha.kodkanon@mail.kmutt.ac.th Dr Pichet Pinit is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Technology Education, Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand. He received his Doctor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Nippon Institute of Technology, Japan. Email: pichet.pin@kmutt.ac.th Dr Elizabeth Murphy is a retired professor from the Faculty of Education, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada where she was the 2007-08 winner of the President's Award for Outstanding Research. Email: emurphy@mun.ca Please cite as: Kodkanon, K., Pinit, P. & Murphy, E. (2018). High-school teachers' experiences of interdisciplinary team teaching. Issues in Educational Research, 28(4), 967-989. http://www.iier.org.au/iier28/kodkanon.pdf