“Big Ideas” courses are a new type of interdisciplinary General Education course being piloted on the University of Iowa campus. These courses bring together a team of faculty from different departments to focus on a common theme or to address a question of broad public concern and interest. In some cases, extensive use of relevant external speakers and local community resources are built into the curriculum.

Currently in 2015-­‐2016, five Big Ideas courses are being taught, serving ~500 students:  (1) Origins of Life in the Universe – Parts 1 and 2, (2) People and Environment: Technology, Culture and Social Justice, (3) Policy Matters, (4) Energy & Society: The History and Science of Oil and (5) Creativity for a Lifetime.

Origins student comment (2013­‐14): “I think ‘Origins’ is an innovative and engaging class, you can be involved in numerous disciplines taught by amazing professors, in the course of a year or one semester. It was so different that any other science class I previously took and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be in this one.”

Specialization is necessary for research but may not prepare undergraduate students for life after college. When our students complete their degrees and become active members of the workforce, their communities and public life, they will confront the many challenges facing people in the state of Iowa, the United States, and the world. Real-­‐world problems are complex and cannot be solved with the perspective and tools of a single discipline.  Learning how to think about complex and pressing issues and addressing questions of general human interest require a broad training (beyond the ‘major’), intellectual flexibility, and collaborative skills. Big ideas courses help students cultivate such abilities by focusing on topics that are exciting and engaged with various communities outside the academy. Students, TAs and Faculty all benefit from this experience.

Big Ideas courses are taught exclusively or partially in an active learning environment (known as “TILE” classrooms at U Iowa). TILE classrooms provide students with a state-­‐of-­‐the art learning experience. Students work in teams and sit at round tables during class periods, which facilitate collaborative activities.  They have access to laptops, document cameras and HDTV screens. Student work can easily be projected to the entire classroom for discussion.  Students in a TILE classroom use inquiry-­‐based activities to build success in critical thinking, teamwork, and effective written and oral communication.  Faculty and TAs spend less time delivering content through lecturing and more time engaging with students in small groups to supervise their activities. 

Origins student comment (2013-14): “I like the TILE classroom and working in teams. I have learned so much