Learning Commons assignment

What is The Learning Commons?

1. Researching

Using LISTA, (Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts) find an article to read on “the learning commons”

Write the bibliographic information below:

Steele                   _, Ryan. “The Journey from library to learning commons.” Teacher librarian _
               Author Last Name      First Name Article Title Journal Title/Name

_42__ _3_.               _12-17_____.
Volume Issue         Pages

Please write a 1 page summary of the article that you’ve read.  Explain how it relates to the learning commons model and what you’ve learned about the idea of a learning commons from reading the article.

Article summary

The author told a series of steps he or she went through on the way of creating a learning commons. Painting the walls with brighter colors, using new and useful furniture, establishing a "Maker-space" where the tables and chairs can be recreated by students, Green screens and other new technology such as kindles, a creative area such as Lego wall. From the understanding of the article, a learning commons should provide a series of learning activities, the learning activities could be shown in ways of reading, have a freedom to write, or draw. It could also be a place where students can stay for socializing and studying in spare blocks. Keeping the learning commons tidy and organized is also important. A tidy place will give people a good mood. A good learning commons should also have enough supplies for everyone, believing that they will return everything back, this establishes a trust bridge between the users and the librarians. Moreover, the new technology had to be accessible for everyone in the learning commons. Overall, the learning commons is a place where interaction, friendship, learning and entertainment happen. People can enjoy things that they might not have time to do at home or other places, it’s also a place in school or community where new innovation of education is adapted to everyone.

2.  Reading/ Synthesizing

Find the book The Learning Commons: Seven Simple Steps to Transform your Library by Pamela Colburn Harland.

Scan through the book.  Using the steps outlined by Harland, create a chart that presents a report card for how our library is doing.  

The Steps	What We’re Already Doing	How we can Improve
User- centered	Clean workshops for the users great resources	Textbook section in the library for students to use in the library only.
Flexible	Having a library wiki	Making the physical and virtual spaces have a more scalable and sustainable change.
Join resources	Having been able to join the efficient resources for students to use	Access to computers, iPad and more, creating a student and technology interaction
Remove barriers	Collaboration breaks-the sticky notes	Creating a password protected with access to electronic resources for users.
Trust your users	Accessible tools and supplies for users.	Keep a box where students can access the tools or stationaries they need
publicize	Having simple newsletter template	Having monthly reports
Repetitive questions	Collecting questions and answering them	Creating handout for FAQ

3.  Listening / Thinking

Please go to the following site episode of CBC’s The Current: “Designing Libraries that are Relevant in the Digital Age”

http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/episode/2014/10/20/designing-libraries-in-the-21st-century-new-headline-just-a-holder/

Listen to the first 10 minutes of the podcast and answer the following questions:

1. How does Morton Schmidt describe the modern library? What are some of the features?

Morton Schmidt thinks modern library is Very different, it’s a gathering place for people, they should have the space to  socialize, and share knowledge with each other. Morton Schmidt thinks the library is important as a church, or a community center. It’s a place to find comfort. Some of the features in a well designed modern library are workshops where people can do things may not be able to do in other places of the city.

2. Why does Schmidt think we still need libraries?  What does he compare them to?

People talking to each other the communication could not be reached on web. Still some people want a place where books are gathered, noncommercial, he compared to life how we need to bring the knowledge we own to life every day.

3. Why is light so important to his design on the library?

The old traditional libraries are dusty , old and dark which made it dull to stay in. The light is so important in his design is the purpose of getting people to feel and connected to nature.

4. Describe what is meant by democratic architecture. 

Design for everyone, open and accessible for everyone, drawing attention to people in every cultural group.

4. Reflecting

Given your new knowledge of the idea of a LEARNING COMMONS, write a thoughtful paragraph reflecting on the changes to libraries over your time in school.  Which changes have been both necessary and successful and which aspects of the library should stay the same.

Through the three years studying in Fleetwood Park Secondary, I’ve seen a lot of changes being done to the learning commons. The walls are repainted, and the carpets are changed. The book shelves are replaced or taken down from walls if unnecessary, the tables and chairs are renewed and also rearranged. The front desk has been lowered so the “barriers” can be taken down. The Ancient labels disappeared. The learning commons changed completely. The old walls was in turquoise, although it looked calming, it looked a bit ancient, after the walls are repainted the library looked more modernized. The new dark color collage style carpet come in contrast with the white walls and made the learning commons comfortable to stay. The change of the tables seems necessary in my opinion, first of all, the old desks looks dull and heavy, giving the library an ancient feel, but after the new desks are in, even though they are in weird shapes; they are efficient to use since they can be rearranged in a way of jigsaw puzzle. With these tables in the library, the area are there for students to be creative with what they want. The second necessary change of the learning commons is the front desk. The old desk in the library has a high front which blocks most of the vision if the librarians sit down, they may not be able to also enjoy the library as much as the other people in the library do. The new front desk completely eliminated the blockage.