It’s kind of obvious when you think about the element of collaboration in the New Tech High project based learning system, right? Yes, and no. Of course, there is the obvious element where we have to work together to create a final product. There is the obvious element where we are all collaborating on the critical thinking element, brainstorming and bouncing ideas off one another. And OBVIOUSLY, there is the part where we work together in assigning group roles, and discerning who will do what tasks within a group. However, there exists a less apparent form of collaboration that we develop during our time at New Tech.
This element I’m referring to is the element of coexistence. Our senior class has been intimate and has developed the skill of how to be able to coexist with one another. This is not to say that we all like each other, although many of us do like one another. What I am trying to convey is that we’ve learned to tolerate one another, because we’ve all had to work with each other at one point or another. I don’t like everyone in my class, in fact there are some people that I particularly dislike. What’s important is that I can collaborate with everyone, even if I don’t really like them. That is a very useful skill new tech has helped me develop.
For my example of collaboration, is my essay on obesity, where I had to collaborate with group members to produce. It was written for my 12th grade Political Studies Class.
That can be found here.