A team of Oakridge faculty and administrators recently returned from the Lausanne Learning Institute summer conference, where The Oakridge School was named the 2016 School Spotlight Award winner.
The Lausanne Learning Institute is an international think tank for schools focusing on 1:1 integration and student-centered learning, and the annual Spotlight award recognizes the most innovative independent school of the year. The Spotlight school then presents a series of education sessions on their best practices at the Lausanne summer conference in Memphis, Tennessee.
Oakridge presented 14 sessions over two days, with topics ranging from student collaboration across grade levels, gamification, inquiry-based learning, innovation in AP curriculum, authentic learning, disrupting school silos, and creative classroom techniques such as fantasy drafts for humanities figures and creating a virtual museum. In addition, outgoing Admissions Director Mike Cobb presented six sessions on Administrative Leadership. As part of the award presentation, attendees watched a video made by Oakridge students highlighting innovation and 1:1 integration.
Oakridge presenters included:
- Amy Alsip, Middle School English and Advanced Writing Teacher
- Jim Andersen, Associate Head of Upper School and Foreign Language Department Chair
- Katherine Arce, Upper and Middle School Spanish (presenting via Skype from Costa Rica)
- Jennifer Bonner, History Department Chair
- Mike Cobb, former Director of Admissions
- Jared Colley, English Department Chair
- Megan Elizondo, Middle School Maker Specialist
- Wesley Irons, Upper School Science
- Jon Kellam, Head of School
- Jason Kern, CIO and Director of Modern Learning
- Matt Knauf, Upper School Maker Coordinator
- Michael Millians, Middle School History
- Ashley Read, Lower School Teacher and Technology Integrationist
- Claire Reddig, Middle School English and Writing Specialist
- James Roberts, Upper School Science
- Shannon Schley, ECC STEAM Coordinator
- Amy Wilson, Technology Integrationist
- Charlotte Wiseman, Middle School Math
Also announced at the conference was that Lausanne was teaming up with The Oakridge School to present LLI Southwest on February 23-24, 2017, on the Oakridge campus. This regional conference will bring together educators to learn more about innovative practices in the classroom, Maker Space strategies, and authentic learning opportunities.