Since I have been here, there is a single question I have been asked almost every time I meet someone - What are you doing here?
Well, there is the brief response I give concerning my research and then there are many other facets to what I am doing here in the City of Dreaming Spires. I am researching and working on a doctorate program, participating in Oxford University MCRs, working with a professor in the Department of Education, tutoring, traveling, and taking a lot of time for myself. This post will cover most of "what I am doing here" and "why I am here", although, truly, I am still exploring all of the possibilities of being here.
Below, I have included my formal, but brief, response to this question. Although, if you would like to read it in more detail, I currently have 55 pages drafted on chapters 1 through 3. I recently passed the Comprehensive Exam for my dissertation with a 93% and will therefore be continuing with my current research as a doctoral candidate.
My work in Oxford addresses how online platforms can connect geographically distant teachers into a professional learning community specifically to meet the needs of gifted and talented students. My work specifically focuses on supporting gifted and talented students through online collaboration and professional development with teachers. Through collaboration and interaction with academics in the field of education at Oxford, I am working on developing a protocol for teacher learning and collaboration online and for international best practices on gifted and talented instruction and training.
Well, there is the brief response I give concerning my research and then there are many other facets to what I am doing here in the City of Dreaming Spires. I am researching and working on a doctorate program, participating in Oxford University MCRs, working with a professor in the Department of Education, tutoring, traveling, and taking a lot of time for myself. This post will cover most of "what I am doing here" and "why I am here", although, truly, I am still exploring all of the possibilities of being here.
Below, I have included my formal, but brief, response to this question. Although, if you would like to read it in more detail, I currently have 55 pages drafted on chapters 1 through 3. I recently passed the Comprehensive Exam for my dissertation with a 93% and will therefore be continuing with my current research as a doctoral candidate.
My work in Oxford addresses how online platforms can connect geographically distant teachers into a professional learning community specifically to meet the needs of gifted and talented students. My work specifically focuses on supporting gifted and talented students through online collaboration and professional development with teachers. Through collaboration and interaction with academics in the field of education at Oxford, I am working on developing a protocol for teacher learning and collaboration online and for international best practices on gifted and talented instruction and training.
Why Oxford?
Many people have asked me why I am working on my research in Oxford. Well, what better place is there to research and network in the field of education?
Although I love teaching, it can sometimes be all-encompassing, so I decided about half-way through last school year to take time off during the 2015-2016 school year to focus on my doctorate program, review other research studies and associated literature, grow academically, and reflect on myself as a leader in the field of education. While pondering how I would spend my year out of the classroom, I reached out to the people I worked with last Summer in Oxford, to be a reference for a tutoring job locally in Charleston, and in response they offered me a position and opportunity in Oxford for this year. The position was originally offered from July to December, but has now been offered to extend for a duration of 12 months, which would have me here in Oxford until Summer 2016. I am still considering whether I will remain here or return to Charleston in December. I plan to make a decision by mid-September. I am still employed by Berkeley County School District, but am currently on a leave of absence in lieu of a sabbatical, and can return to a teaching job in either January or August of 2016.
Tutoring?
I am currently tutoring students in reading, writing, mathematics, history, and geography, so pretty much everything except science. Mostly, they are students I have worked with in the past and are truly amazing to work with every day. They teach me new things and allow me to reflect on myself as a teacher. I am working on incorporating The Habits of Mind into my repertoire of pedagogical practices. With my current students, we are covering a comprehensive review of English history, although we took a short break to learn more about Istanbul, as they traveled there for holiday recently. We are reading great literature and discussing it, working on strengthening different types of writing, and climbing the ladder of mathematical concepts and skills.
University of Oxford?
Department of Education
I am not a student at Oxford University, but try to take full advantage of being a part of the community at and around the university. A professor from Harris Manchester is currently working with me on my research and I have continued to network and meet other professors in the Department of Education. I enjoy weekly coffee with the Department of Education faculty members and learn a great deal while enjoying a hot beverage and biscuits. I was fortunate to attend a great conference when I first got here and am currently registered to attend a variety of upcoming lectures and seminars in the field of education, including one on Theories of Potential and the Creation of Inequality in the Education and another on Schooling and Learning in East Asia: Understanding the North-South Divide. Although I am enrolled in 12 hours for the Fall Semester through my home university, I am excited to be selecting a course through the part-time study opportunities offered by the Department for Continuing Education at the University of Oxford and continuing to take part in the MCRs (Middle Common Rooms).
Middle Common Rooms
I am not a student at Oxford University, but am an associate member with two of the MCRs or Middle Common Rooms. I applied for associate membership to Merton first, as it was one of my favorite places last time I was here in Oxford. I fell in love with the gardens and the medieval library. It didn't hurt that J.R.R. Tolkien was a professor of literature at Merton, a college, which also claims T.S. Elliot and Thomas Bodley, who is the founder of the Bodleian Library. The Bodleian Library is one of my favorite places here. There is something magical about standing in Duke Humphrey's Library and glancing from one side of the library and down the corridor to across the street to see a full span of library history. But, I digress - Later, after realizing I would not have any dining rights with Merton, I applied to New College, where I will have dining rights starting in October and have been able to take part in many of the social activities, including: barbecues, movie nights, punting, weekly bar nights, brunch, and more. I have met some fabulous people at the New College MCR and look forward to participating even more when the school year officially starts in October.
Many people have asked me why I am working on my research in Oxford. Well, what better place is there to research and network in the field of education?
Although I love teaching, it can sometimes be all-encompassing, so I decided about half-way through last school year to take time off during the 2015-2016 school year to focus on my doctorate program, review other research studies and associated literature, grow academically, and reflect on myself as a leader in the field of education. While pondering how I would spend my year out of the classroom, I reached out to the people I worked with last Summer in Oxford, to be a reference for a tutoring job locally in Charleston, and in response they offered me a position and opportunity in Oxford for this year. The position was originally offered from July to December, but has now been offered to extend for a duration of 12 months, which would have me here in Oxford until Summer 2016. I am still considering whether I will remain here or return to Charleston in December. I plan to make a decision by mid-September. I am still employed by Berkeley County School District, but am currently on a leave of absence in lieu of a sabbatical, and can return to a teaching job in either January or August of 2016.
Tutoring?
I am currently tutoring students in reading, writing, mathematics, history, and geography, so pretty much everything except science. Mostly, they are students I have worked with in the past and are truly amazing to work with every day. They teach me new things and allow me to reflect on myself as a teacher. I am working on incorporating The Habits of Mind into my repertoire of pedagogical practices. With my current students, we are covering a comprehensive review of English history, although we took a short break to learn more about Istanbul, as they traveled there for holiday recently. We are reading great literature and discussing it, working on strengthening different types of writing, and climbing the ladder of mathematical concepts and skills.
University of Oxford?
Department of Education
I am not a student at Oxford University, but try to take full advantage of being a part of the community at and around the university. A professor from Harris Manchester is currently working with me on my research and I have continued to network and meet other professors in the Department of Education. I enjoy weekly coffee with the Department of Education faculty members and learn a great deal while enjoying a hot beverage and biscuits. I was fortunate to attend a great conference when I first got here and am currently registered to attend a variety of upcoming lectures and seminars in the field of education, including one on Theories of Potential and the Creation of Inequality in the Education and another on Schooling and Learning in East Asia: Understanding the North-South Divide. Although I am enrolled in 12 hours for the Fall Semester through my home university, I am excited to be selecting a course through the part-time study opportunities offered by the Department for Continuing Education at the University of Oxford and continuing to take part in the MCRs (Middle Common Rooms).
Middle Common Rooms
I am not a student at Oxford University, but am an associate member with two of the MCRs or Middle Common Rooms. I applied for associate membership to Merton first, as it was one of my favorite places last time I was here in Oxford. I fell in love with the gardens and the medieval library. It didn't hurt that J.R.R. Tolkien was a professor of literature at Merton, a college, which also claims T.S. Elliot and Thomas Bodley, who is the founder of the Bodleian Library. The Bodleian Library is one of my favorite places here. There is something magical about standing in Duke Humphrey's Library and glancing from one side of the library and down the corridor to across the street to see a full span of library history. But, I digress - Later, after realizing I would not have any dining rights with Merton, I applied to New College, where I will have dining rights starting in October and have been able to take part in many of the social activities, including: barbecues, movie nights, punting, weekly bar nights, brunch, and more. I have met some fabulous people at the New College MCR and look forward to participating even more when the school year officially starts in October.
A Few pictures from oxford: Click for captions
What other things am I doing?
I am meeting new people- two flatmates from St. Louis, the storyteller extraordinaire of ancient history and treaties, the theoretical physicists who makes stars, the doctor who bikes everywhere, the professor who studies Bhutan, the amazing English teacher from my high school Alma Mater, the Best Man from Cambridge, my fellow travelers in Ireland and truly so many more.
I am taking time for myself- I am reading for pleasure a lot more- Some of my favorites so far are the Paper Magician Series, The Magicians, and Go Set a Watchman. In my queue to read are: Between the World and Me, All the Light We Cannot See, The Girl on the Train, and Magician: the Riftwar saga.
I am painting for pleasure- watercolors. (I may be brave enough to post some of my paintings later, but right now they are just for me).
I am learning to relax, enjoying a lot of lavender bubble baths, going on long bike rides and runs through wide-open fields, and overall enjoying a lot of "me-time" while getting to know myself better.
I am exploring a new place- It has been eye-opening to dive into a different culture and embrace new customs and ideas. I have learned to adapt while discovering my new surroundings and have enjoyed exploring and falling in love with Oxford.
I am traveling- I just traveled to Ireland and stayed in a hostel for three nights while touring the countryside, Carrick-a-Rede Bridge, the Giant's Causeway, the dark hedges, Glendalough, Wicklow Mountains, Kilkenny, Belfast, and Dublin. Some other extended vacation ideas, for the future, include Edinburgh, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Barcelona.
I try to take day trips out of Oxford and have been to Bath, Stratford, Whiltshire, Cambridge, London, and Dover. I would like to take other day-trips out of Oxford to places such as Swindon, Brighton, Cardiff, Bristol, London, and Canterbury.
I am meeting new people- two flatmates from St. Louis, the storyteller extraordinaire of ancient history and treaties, the theoretical physicists who makes stars, the doctor who bikes everywhere, the professor who studies Bhutan, the amazing English teacher from my high school Alma Mater, the Best Man from Cambridge, my fellow travelers in Ireland and truly so many more.
I am taking time for myself- I am reading for pleasure a lot more- Some of my favorites so far are the Paper Magician Series, The Magicians, and Go Set a Watchman. In my queue to read are: Between the World and Me, All the Light We Cannot See, The Girl on the Train, and Magician: the Riftwar saga.
I am painting for pleasure- watercolors. (I may be brave enough to post some of my paintings later, but right now they are just for me).
I am learning to relax, enjoying a lot of lavender bubble baths, going on long bike rides and runs through wide-open fields, and overall enjoying a lot of "me-time" while getting to know myself better.
I am exploring a new place- It has been eye-opening to dive into a different culture and embrace new customs and ideas. I have learned to adapt while discovering my new surroundings and have enjoyed exploring and falling in love with Oxford.
I am traveling- I just traveled to Ireland and stayed in a hostel for three nights while touring the countryside, Carrick-a-Rede Bridge, the Giant's Causeway, the dark hedges, Glendalough, Wicklow Mountains, Kilkenny, Belfast, and Dublin. Some other extended vacation ideas, for the future, include Edinburgh, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Barcelona.
I try to take day trips out of Oxford and have been to Bath, Stratford, Whiltshire, Cambridge, London, and Dover. I would like to take other day-trips out of Oxford to places such as Swindon, Brighton, Cardiff, Bristol, London, and Canterbury.