Learning and Teaching in the Information Commons Jamie Wood, LDRA, Information Literacy, CILASS

Structure CILASS; CILASS spaces; IC Opinions on CILASS spaces Teaching in CILASS spaces Learning in the IC Academic services in the IC

CILASS; CILASS spaces; IC

Opinions on CILASS spaces

Teaching in CILASS spaces

Learning in the IC

Academic services in the IC

CILASS – Centre for Inquiry-based Learning in the Arts and Social Sciences CETL awarded to the University by HEFCE in 2005 Awarded £4.5M for 5 years of reward/ development activity and capital investment Aim: to enhance the student learning experience by embedding inquiry at its heart in core faculties ‘ Modelling the process of research within the student learning experience’ 1 of key strands is developing students’ Information Literacy skills

CETL awarded to the University by HEFCE in 2005

Awarded £4.5M for 5 years of reward/ development activity and capital investment

Aim: to enhance the student learning experience by embedding inquiry at its heart in core faculties

‘ Modelling the process of research within the student learning experience’

1 of key strands is developing students’ Information Literacy skills

Bart olomé House Further £350K awarded by HEFCE in 2006 Used to create a technology-rich collaboratory JISC video Test-bed for CILASS spaces in IC and others

Further £350K awarded by HEFCE in 2006

Used to create a technology-rich collaboratory

JISC video

Test-bed for CILASS spaces in IC and others

Information Commons & CILASS CILASS invested £1.83M in creating CILASS spaces in the IC Spaces designed specifically to support collaborative, student-led inquiry in core CILASS disciplines ‘ Inquiry collaboratories’ (classrooms conceived as research environments) offer access to a wide variety of technologies as an integral part of the learning and teaching experience Other features: ‘soft’ spaces and small-group rooms for informal use by students

CILASS invested £1.83M in creating CILASS spaces in the IC

Spaces designed specifically to support collaborative, student-led inquiry in core CILASS disciplines

‘ Inquiry collaboratories’ (classrooms conceived as research environments) offer access to a wide variety of technologies as an integral part of the learning and teaching experience

Other features: ‘soft’ spaces and small-group rooms for informal use by students

A Comparison

Students CILASS rules! What an environment! CILASS room fantastic - technology here was really great, made it far more interesting than other seminars. We were so lucky to use the CILASS technology. Learning has finally come into the 21st century. The new technology has opened my eyes to exciting new ways to examine literary texts. I think it’s a fantastic space and it’s very well set up, with a lot of flexibility. The experience has boosted my confidence and I’m very pleased that I was brave enough to take on the challenge of learning how to use all this new equipment and experimenting in new teaching methods. It’s been a learning process for both me and the students! It has enabled me to do better things I was doing in less suitable accommodation. I wish facilities like the Collaboratory were more widely available throughout the University. Staff Opinions on collaboratories

CILASS rules! What an environment!

CILASS room fantastic - technology here was really great, made it far more interesting than other seminars.

We were so lucky to use the CILASS technology. Learning has finally come into the 21st century. The new technology has opened my eyes to exciting new ways to examine literary texts.

I think it’s a fantastic space and it’s very well set up, with a lot of flexibility.

The experience has boosted my confidence and I’m very pleased that I was brave enough to take on the challenge of learning how to use all this new equipment and experimenting in new teaching methods. It’s been a learning process for both me and the students!

It has enabled me to do better things I was doing in less suitable accommodation.

I wish facilities like the Collaboratory were more widely available throughout the University.

Teaching – Bart olomé House Roots-Routes Students undertook collaborative inquiries into the novel Roots from 8 different perspectives Library input Positive feedback Student: ‘Fantastic! I love the CILASS room’ Staff evaluation: ‘flexibility and technology-rich nature of the learning space were felt to have enhanced collaborative inquiry’

Roots-Routes

Students undertook collaborative inquiries into the novel Roots from 8 different perspectives

Library input

Positive feedback

Student: ‘Fantastic! I love the CILASS room’

Staff evaluation: ‘flexibility and technology-rich nature of the learning space were felt to have enhanced collaborative inquiry’

Teaching – Information Commons Understanding Law 2 New CILASS funded module 250 students worked independently to complete an online workbook and a learning journal Students also worked in 45 groups to research 1 aspect of the law and create a multi-media resource (film, podcast, powerpoint) Resource shared with students, staff, and visiting professionals at a 'Celebration of Learning' in IC

Understanding Law 2

New CILASS funded module

250 students worked independently to complete an online workbook and a learning journal

Students also worked in 45 groups to research 1 aspect of the law and create a multi-media resource (film, podcast, powerpoint)

Resource shared with students, staff, and visiting professionals at a 'Celebration of Learning' in IC

Learning – Information Commons Likes Colour; views Space Quiet Never too busy Relaxed; approachable New; modern; shiny Sofas; cosy Computers; resources Dislikes Noisy Too busy Lighting Too casual Not enough quiet spaces Needs more books Some opinions Activities: revision; research; facebook

Likes

Colour; views

Space

Quiet

Never too busy

Relaxed; approachable

New; modern; shiny

Sofas; cosy

Computers; resources

Dislikes

Noisy

Too busy

Lighting

Too casual

Not enough quiet spaces

Needs more books

Some opinions

Academic Services in the Information Commons Working with IC manager and CiCs on L & T in the IC. Ideas include: Surgeries Enquiry Service Subject Days New ideas for induction – tours, podcasts Tying into academic modules Use of IC spaces as a whole, including CILASS and classrooms so that students can learn more about various facilities/ services that are available to them

Working with IC manager and CiCs on L & T in the IC. Ideas include:

Surgeries

Enquiry Service

Subject Days

New ideas for induction – tours, podcasts

Tying into academic modules

Use of IC spaces as a whole, including CILASS and classrooms so that students can learn more about various facilities/ services that are available to them

Thanks! To find out more about CILASS: http://www.shef.ac.uk/cilass/home.html To contact me: [email_address]

To find out more about CILASS: http://www.shef.ac.uk/cilass/home.html

To contact me: [email_address]