fagoverskridende

Fagoverskridende is a term used in Norwegian and Danish to describe activities, curricula, or research that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries. The word is formed from fag, meaning subject or discipline, and overskridende, meaning crossing or going beyond. In education, it often refers to approaches that integrate knowledge, methods, and perspectives from two or more subjects within a single learning activity. This contrasts with disciplinary teaching, where subjects are taught separately. Common forms include project-based learning and theme-based curricula that address real-world problems, such as sustainable development or health, where science, mathematics, language, and social studies may be combined.

In research, fagoverskridende work denotes collaboration across disciplines to tackle complex questions, sometimes overlapping with interdisciplinarity or transdisciplinarity. The terminology does not always have precise boundaries, and usage varies by country and context: some use fagoverskridende interchangeably with interdisciplinary; others reserve it for explicit cross-subject collaboration with integrated outcomes.

Benefits of fagoverskridende approaches include fostering holistic understanding, relevance to everyday problems, and the development of transferable skills such as collaboration and systems thinking. Challenges include aligning learning outcomes, designing appropriate assessments, and coordinating curriculum and scheduling. Successful implementation often requires professional development for teachers and supportive institutional structures.

See also: interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity, cross-disciplinary education.