Embarking on Oxford
W
hield we often focus on identifying the benefits of Trinity’s commitment to the International Baccalaureate Program, participation in the IB Program also offers amazing opportunities for Trinity faculty. This past June, Brian Phillips, Brian Rollins, and I traveled to Oxford to participate in IB training. For four days, we attended workshops, met IB colleagues from around the world, and also took the opportunity to visit a number of Oxford’s sites. The opportunity to meet and work with IB faculty teaching in places such as Switzerland, Denmark, Egypt, New Zealand, Argentina, Swaziland, and the UK gave us the chance to see how the IB Program connects students in the pursuit of a shared curriculum while also recognizing the diversity of the ways in which our colleagues from around the world approach the curriculum.
20
SUMMER 2013
A view from the rooftop in Oxford, England
Chair of the fine arts department Brian Phillips, Music Director Brian Rollins and Director of Academic Program Sarah McDermott traveled to Oxford, England to participate in an International Baccalaureate Training. Sarah McDermott shared her experience with the Titan Trail…
We all left with new ideas and new colleagues with whom to share ideas. I returned with a notebook full of ideas and resources. While much of our days were spent in workshops, we also had the opportunity to visit the sites of Oxford. We got to put our novice punting skills to the test. Although it was a lot of fun, I still prefer my kayak and a kayak paddle. As I walked through St. John’s College, Christ Church College, and listened to the choirs of Queen’s College and New College at evensong, I was reminded of the extent to which schools, colleges, and universities are places of history and cherished memories as well as places that also are also vibrant and very present.
Brian Rollins, Brian Phillips and I returned tired but also amazingly refreshed and ready to bring new ideas and strategies to our classrooms. We were very grateful for the opportunity we had to attend the conference. We returned even more aware of the tremendous benefits of what the International Baccalaureate Program brings to Trinity.
