Reflective Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Teaching in Public Health Education: Insights from a Mixed-Methods Approach

Interdisciplinary teaching is vital for equipping students to address complex public health challenges. This study explores teachers' reflections on interdisciplinary teaching in Singapore’s undergraduate public health programmes, examining facilitators and barriers to its implementation. Using...

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Main Authors: Raymond Boon Tar Lim, Claire Gek Ling Tan, Kelly Voo, Yock Leng Lee, Cecilia Woon Chien Teng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Georgia Southern University 2025-01-01
Series:International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Subjects:
Online Access:https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/ij-sotl/vol19/iss1/9/
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author Raymond Boon Tar Lim
Claire Gek Ling Tan
Kelly Voo
Yock Leng Lee
Cecilia Woon Chien Teng
author_facet Raymond Boon Tar Lim
Claire Gek Ling Tan
Kelly Voo
Yock Leng Lee
Cecilia Woon Chien Teng
author_sort Raymond Boon Tar Lim
collection DOAJ
description Interdisciplinary teaching is vital for equipping students to address complex public health challenges. This study explores teachers' reflections on interdisciplinary teaching in Singapore’s undergraduate public health programmes, examining facilitators and barriers to its implementation. Using surveys and in-depth interviews, we gathered diverse insights from teachers. Quantitative results revealed a significant positive association between interdisciplinary teaching frequency, and willingness for further integration, and non-significant associations for perceptions on knowledge and importance of integration. Notably, participants' satisfaction with the current state of interdisciplinary learning in the public health curriculum or during internship supervision was low, although this finding was not significant. Qualitative findings highlighted successful practices, such as fostering core competencies through cross-disciplinary efforts, alongside challenges like collaboration difficulties, faculty specialization, and limited institutional support. These insights underscore the need for clear guidelines and robust institutional frameworks to strengthen interdisciplinary teaching. Addressing these gaps can help institutions foster an environment where teachers deliver integrated education that prepares students for public health complexities. This study contributes to the literature on interdisciplinary teaching in higher education and advocates for cohesive, reflective approaches that support collective transformation in academic practice.
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spelling doaj-art-bab89810404c4775bf8d9efff8726c292025-08-20T01:51:00ZengGeorgia Southern UniversityInternational Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning1931-47442025-01-0119110.20429/ijsotl.2025.190109Reflective Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Teaching in Public Health Education: Insights from a Mixed-Methods ApproachRaymond Boon Tar Lim Claire Gek Ling TanKelly VooYock Leng LeeCecilia Woon Chien Teng Interdisciplinary teaching is vital for equipping students to address complex public health challenges. This study explores teachers' reflections on interdisciplinary teaching in Singapore’s undergraduate public health programmes, examining facilitators and barriers to its implementation. Using surveys and in-depth interviews, we gathered diverse insights from teachers. Quantitative results revealed a significant positive association between interdisciplinary teaching frequency, and willingness for further integration, and non-significant associations for perceptions on knowledge and importance of integration. Notably, participants' satisfaction with the current state of interdisciplinary learning in the public health curriculum or during internship supervision was low, although this finding was not significant. Qualitative findings highlighted successful practices, such as fostering core competencies through cross-disciplinary efforts, alongside challenges like collaboration difficulties, faculty specialization, and limited institutional support. These insights underscore the need for clear guidelines and robust institutional frameworks to strengthen interdisciplinary teaching. Addressing these gaps can help institutions foster an environment where teachers deliver integrated education that prepares students for public health complexities. This study contributes to the literature on interdisciplinary teaching in higher education and advocates for cohesive, reflective approaches that support collective transformation in academic practice.https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/ij-sotl/vol19/iss1/9/interdisciplinary teaching; public health education; teacher reflections; mixed-methods research; higher education
spellingShingle Raymond Boon Tar Lim
Claire Gek Ling Tan
Kelly Voo
Yock Leng Lee
Cecilia Woon Chien Teng
Reflective Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Teaching in Public Health Education: Insights from a Mixed-Methods Approach
International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
interdisciplinary teaching; public health education; teacher reflections; mixed-methods research; higher education
title Reflective Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Teaching in Public Health Education: Insights from a Mixed-Methods Approach
title_full Reflective Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Teaching in Public Health Education: Insights from a Mixed-Methods Approach
title_fullStr Reflective Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Teaching in Public Health Education: Insights from a Mixed-Methods Approach
title_full_unstemmed Reflective Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Teaching in Public Health Education: Insights from a Mixed-Methods Approach
title_short Reflective Perspectives on Interdisciplinary Teaching in Public Health Education: Insights from a Mixed-Methods Approach
title_sort reflective perspectives on interdisciplinary teaching in public health education insights from a mixed methods approach
topic interdisciplinary teaching; public health education; teacher reflections; mixed-methods research; higher education
url https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/ij-sotl/vol19/iss1/9/
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