Disciplinary Differences in Teaching

Academic disciplines such as history and physiology are specialized subjects with preferred language systems and knowledge domains. All such disciplinary specialization, marked by subject matter boundaries, translate into disciplinary differences. Variability among the disciplines gives rise to differences in how they are taught and learned. To grasp the full meaning of disciplinary differences in teaching, it thus is necessary to understand the central role of academic disciplines in the development of higher education institutions.

Mindful of variable national influences in higher education, this entry provides an overview of disciplines and then discusses the origins and evolution of disciplines, which are instrumental in determining how they are taught and learned. The entry then explores subdisciplinary specializations, teaching and learning as socialization for disciplinary membership, and the digital-age ...