interdisciplinary is an adjective that qualifies what is common to two or more subjects or other branches of knowledge. It is the process of linking disciplines.
The word interdisciplinary is formed by the union of the prefix "inter", which expresses the idea of "inside", "between", "in the middle"; with the word "disciplinary", which has a pedagogical sense of instructing in the rules and precepts of some art.
One interdisciplinary planning, in the pedagogical area, is when two or more disciplines relate their contents to deepen knowledge and bring dynamics to teaching. The relationship between subject contents is the basis for a more interesting teaching, where one subject helps another.
One interdisciplinary content it can be part of a large project, between two teachers or even with a single teacher. For example: a chemistry teacher teaching the composition of various materials used by painters may include researches on the history of the arts, the important painters, their nationalities, which unites Chemistry, History, Arts and Geography.
Professionals who work in an ICU (Intensive Care Unit) of a hospital can form a team interdisciplinary team consisting of a doctor, nurse, nutritionist, physical therapists, etc., who together seek the same objective.
Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary
The main difference between the interdisciplinarity and the multidisciplinarity it is in the linearity of both.
While the interdisciplinary aims at the grouping of different branches of knowledge, following an objective in common, such as a specific subject or theme, for example, the multidisciplinary method does not aim at the linearity of matters.
The multidisciplinary can be a set of disciplines that are studied simultaneously, but without the need to be related to each other.
Unlike the interdisciplinary method, which provides more specialized knowledge, multidisciplinarity results in more eclectic knowledge.