Experiential learning is a pillar of Trinity-Pawling School. It allows students to dive in, learn by doing, think critically, and solve real-world problems. This is particularly true for juniors participating in the Global Collaborative Challenge (GCC), a project in which students collaborate to tackle relevant global issues and are then challenged to fine-tune their presentation skills and showcase their findings to a faculty panel.
This year’s Global Collaborative Challenge groups addressed a wide range of real-world topics, from healthcare and mass pollution to the evolution of the media. Has the evolution of news made it less about news and more about ratings? Is an unbiased press, if that is possible, essential to the health of a democracy? Juniors Marcus Beato, Brett Ginac, Leo Jiang, Tim Wang, and Jack Zhang set out to develop their answers, guided by Slade Mead, Director of College Placement.
In their presentation, this group highlighted the shift that the news industry has experienced with the growth of the Internet. They explored the concept of ratings, competition between media outlets, and the transformation of information that may occur, simply to draw in more viewers. The students focused on the fundamental right to know the truth—but considered where that right falls on a political priority list. Over the weeks, Beato, Ginac, Jiang, Wang, and Zhang researched and assembled these concepts into a smooth and organized 12-minute presentation.
“This group’s performance was top-notch,” shared Mead, following the final GCC presentations. “What impressed me most was how truly polished their presentation was. The slides were beautifully scripted, the cadence was great, and the material flowed seamlessly. From the first to the twelfth minute, the presentation was a clean and articulate powerhouse.”
What’s one important takeaway for the students on this Global Collaborative Challenge team? If you ask Mead, it’s more than the real-world thinking. “Yes, the group learned about the current news industry, but more importantly, they learned how to work as a team, put forth a quality presentation, and literally think on their feet—especially when asked questions by the faculty panel,” he explained. “Those skills are essential.”