Oxford Community Schools? quest to give its students a global education is taking two of its central administrators all the way to the southern tip of Africa next week.
Superintendent Dr. William Skilling and Jim Schwarz, assistant superintendent of curriculum, are traveling approximately 8,300 miles to Cape Town, South Africa to make a presentation at the International Networking for Educational Transformation (iNet) conference Feb. 22-25.
‘We were invited,? Skilling said.
More than 5,000 schools in nearly 40 countries are members of iNet, which works to transform education through the sharing of best practices and innovations. This is accomplished through on-line and face-to-face support via workshops, study tours, conferences, on-line forums and publications.
‘There are educational leaders and ministers of education coming (to this conference) from all over the world,? Skilling said. ‘It’s going to be a fascinating conference for us because some of the best thinkers in education are going to be there. Some of the leading innovators in global education will be there.?
On the first day of the conference, Oxford’s administrators are slated to discuss how the district plans to transform itself using the $9.6 million Project ReImagine Grant it was awarded by the state.
‘We’re talking about some of the things we’re doing to better prepare our kids to compete in a global economy and all the things we’re doing to restructure our curriculum and our program,? Skilling said.
One of those discussion points will be the district’s Fifth Core world language program where all students in grades K-8 are required to learn either Spanish or Mandarin Chinese.
‘I doubt there are very many schools in the entire country that have a nine-year world language requirement,? Skilling said.
Skilling and Schwarz will also be discussing the district’s focus throughout the curriculum on having students become part of ‘international, project-based, problem-solving teams.?
Basically, that means having Oxford students work with other students around the globe in a ‘virtual environment? created and sustained by technology.
‘That’s so important because that’s how corporations are working today,? Skilling explained. ‘Pretty much today, if you’re a corporation, you’re a multinational corporation. You’re competing globally.?
Whenever a corporation looks to start a new product or concept, the superintendent said, ‘They search the globe for the best and brightest in different areas in which they need expertise.?
‘Historically, they looked within their corporation, now they’re looking outside their corporation,? he continued. ‘We want to be able to prepare our kids to move into that type of environment seamlessly.?
Outside of making their presentation, Skilling views this trip as an opportunity to help the district accomplish some of its goals.
‘The major benefit is going to be the networking that we’re going to establish,? he said.
This networking will help the district as it sets up its ‘virtual foreign exchange program,? which will allow Oxford students to attend school in other countries via a two-way video/audio link, yet still participate here in athletic or music programs.
According to Skilling, Oxford students will be able to develop relationships with foreign teachers and students via interactive technology and ‘never have to leave home.?
‘A big part of going to iNet is setting up this network, making connections with different ministers of education, different educational leaders, in order to have this come to fruition for our students,? he said.
Skilling and Schwarz will be leaving Friday, Feb. 19 and returning on Friday, Feb. 26.
The cost for attending this conference is $2,215 per person, which includes airfare, hotel, meals and registration.
Of the $4,430 total cost, iNet is covering $500, according to Skilling.
The rest will be paid by the school district, which will later be reimbursed when the Project ReImagine Grant money comes in.