Problem Solving Essay

As student of the Huntington Park Institute of Applied Medicine, students from 9th to
10th grade would be tasked with an interdisciplinary project(IDP) each semester. The final
interdisciplinary is given in the first semester of the 11th grade year. The final project is
presented near the end of the second semester. The topic of the IDP in the spring semester was
mental health. The interdisciplinary project presentation was titled Bipolar Disorder. This IDP
was completed in the spring of 2017, and I presented with my assigned group on school campus.
In order to complete the assignment, placed in a group, all members were to conduct research on
an assigned non-communicable disease. After conducting research, as a group, we were to
present the causes, symptoms, as well as treatments of the mental health illness. This project fits
in the problem solving category through the information learned of the disease. With this
knowledge, research was conducted regarding the locations where the illness can be assessed or
treated. This may aid someone in our daily lives, or as well as benefit other students through
further knowledge.
The title of the 11th grade IDP is “Lead Toxicity in our Community”. This
interdisciplinary project was completed and presented on school campus in the spring of 2018. In
order to complete this assignment, placed in a group, all members were to conduct research on
lead in our Huntington Park community. A member was to provide soil from their home in order
to test the amount of lead particles the portion had. As a group, we were to observe the plant
growth between the organic soil and tested soil provided. The overall findings recorded in my
group was to be presented, the findings were to be given understanding as well as reasoning.
With all the research and findings, my group was tasked to bring awareness to the community.
We completed this task by presenting to the parents involved in the campus parent center, as well
as presenting to a panel consisting of teachers, students, and medical professionals. This
interdisciplinary project fits in the problem solving category because throughout the completion
of the project students were encouraged to be more independent. Completing this assignment
was done with less dependence on the teachers. This benefitted me and my group members as we
learned to find the reasoning behind the results. Independently students were to find solutions to
how there can be an increase of awareness in regards to the assigned mental illness. With the
knowledge we learned in our community, we now may benefit others by sharing information and
bring awareness.
In both IDPs, I was a willing collaborator, a critical thinker, as well as an effective
communicator. I worked with my group to listen to any type of input or ideas that other group
members thought of. An example of this was a time when my group was deciding how and what
we may individually present. Some members may come up with a different order, while others
may agree with a different suggestion. This also may include critical thinking, as there would be
a solution to an unanswered or unresolved idea. When it comes to being an effective
communicator, in both groups, I presented the information in front of a panel. I presented
projecting my voice using a clear tone. With information obtained, I elaborated on the topic and
key point that I was tasked with presenting. I used articulate vocabulary and dressed in
appropriate attire for both presentations.
From my 10th grade IDP to my final IDP, I saw that I had grown in my vocabulary. I also
noticed that I presented with more confidence and spoke in a more clear voice in my final
project. I was able to retain more knowledge, which allowed me to present better than the
presentation I made in my 10th grade year. Currently, I do not find myself in an area where I
need improvement. I have learned to present to others, I feel that I am now prepared to present to
an audience. In my groups, I also learned to work well with others. Finally, I improved on my
communication skills as I worked with multiple people.