The document discusses trends in university learning commons and libraries. It notes that physical library spaces are evolving to accommodate more group study spaces and technology integration. Services are expanding beyond traditional reference to include writing centers, tutoring, and makerspaces. Administrations are recognizing the importance of learning commons to student success and investing more resources. Emerging technologies and changing student needs are also driving libraries to adapt their spaces, services, and collections to remain relevant in the long run.
Librarians have traditionally played essential roles as stewards of institutional collections and guides through the information maze of library resources. However, their role is evolving as libraries increasingly provide multimedia content, datasets, and interactive resources. Librarians must form new partnerships with faculty and students to help navigate this changing information landscape, while publishers also adapt their roles in peer review, dissemination, and archiving to the new digital environment.
Guest lecture for ETCV 411, examining the epistemology of crowdsourced information and the limits of traditional academic models. How do information and publishing cycles work; what are their roles in encouraging or hindering certain types of information; and how can more democratized crowdsourced models be used for education, and what are their drawbacks? Download PPT for notes included with the slides.
Librarians of the World, Unite and Take Over: Information Literacy in a Post-...Mariann Lokse
Librarians must work together across different types of libraries to promote information literacy and counter misinformation in a "post-truth" world. The document discusses the need for cooperation between public libraries, university libraries, school libraries, and other library organizations to bridge borders and establish a new vision and role for libraries in society. It provides contact information for Mariann Løkse at UiT The Arctic University of Norway who advocates for this approach.
The document discusses serving LGBT students in higher education. It provides references on multiculturalism, serving LGBT library users, and research on LGBT people in higher education. It also lists numerous national organizations that support LGBT rights, as well as higher education resources like the American College Personnel Association's Standing Committee for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Awareness and Campus Pride. Finally, it provides information on Penn State's Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Equity and LGBT student resources.
This document lists various virtual reference services available through libraries on the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama. It provides links to email reference forms and chat services for several universities in the area, including the University of West Florida, University of South Alabama, Pensacola Junior College, Florida State University, and others. It also describes email and chat consortium services that allow students to get assistance from librarians across different college libraries.
This document lists contact information for several university and college libraries along Florida's Gulf Coast, including their virtual reference services. It mentions that these schools participate in consortium chat reference to offer students real-time assistance without high licensing fees. Specific virtual reference options mentioned include email reference, chat, and asking a librarian forms. Contact information is provided for the libraries of the University of West Florida, University of South Alabama, Pensacola Junior College, Northwest Florida State College, and Troy University.
Quincey McKeen has a BS in Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation from Brigham Young University with a 3.87 GPA. She has work experience conducting surveys of birds, vegetation and small mammals. She is skilled in identifying Western plants and animals and has experience managing data in Excel and Access. McKeen has volunteered on conservation projects and served an 18-month mission in Quebec, Canada where she learned to communicate in French. She is currently a library assessment intern at BYU where she analyzes both quantitative and qualitative data.
Open Journal Systems (OJS) is open source journal management and publishing software developed by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) to improve access to scholarly research. OJS allows journals to manage online submissions and peer review as well as configure various publication options. It is made freely available worldwide to support open access publishing. The continuing development of OJS and other PKP software is overseen by a partnership between PKP, the Canadian Center for Studies in Publishing, and Simon Fraser University Library.
Librarians have traditionally played essential roles as stewards of institutional collections and guides through the information maze of library resources. However, their role is evolving as libraries increasingly provide multimedia content, datasets, and interactive resources. Librarians must form new partnerships with faculty and students to help navigate this changing information landscape, while publishers also adapt their roles in peer review, dissemination, and archiving to the new digital environment.
Guest lecture for ETCV 411, examining the epistemology of crowdsourced information and the limits of traditional academic models. How do information and publishing cycles work; what are their roles in encouraging or hindering certain types of information; and how can more democratized crowdsourced models be used for education, and what are their drawbacks? Download PPT for notes included with the slides.
Librarians of the World, Unite and Take Over: Information Literacy in a Post-...Mariann Lokse
Librarians must work together across different types of libraries to promote information literacy and counter misinformation in a "post-truth" world. The document discusses the need for cooperation between public libraries, university libraries, school libraries, and other library organizations to bridge borders and establish a new vision and role for libraries in society. It provides contact information for Mariann Løkse at UiT The Arctic University of Norway who advocates for this approach.
The document discusses serving LGBT students in higher education. It provides references on multiculturalism, serving LGBT library users, and research on LGBT people in higher education. It also lists numerous national organizations that support LGBT rights, as well as higher education resources like the American College Personnel Association's Standing Committee for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Awareness and Campus Pride. Finally, it provides information on Penn State's Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Equity and LGBT student resources.
This document lists various virtual reference services available through libraries on the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama. It provides links to email reference forms and chat services for several universities in the area, including the University of West Florida, University of South Alabama, Pensacola Junior College, Florida State University, and others. It also describes email and chat consortium services that allow students to get assistance from librarians across different college libraries.
This document lists contact information for several university and college libraries along Florida's Gulf Coast, including their virtual reference services. It mentions that these schools participate in consortium chat reference to offer students real-time assistance without high licensing fees. Specific virtual reference options mentioned include email reference, chat, and asking a librarian forms. Contact information is provided for the libraries of the University of West Florida, University of South Alabama, Pensacola Junior College, Northwest Florida State College, and Troy University.
Quincey McKeen has a BS in Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation from Brigham Young University with a 3.87 GPA. She has work experience conducting surveys of birds, vegetation and small mammals. She is skilled in identifying Western plants and animals and has experience managing data in Excel and Access. McKeen has volunteered on conservation projects and served an 18-month mission in Quebec, Canada where she learned to communicate in French. She is currently a library assessment intern at BYU where she analyzes both quantitative and qualitative data.
Open Journal Systems (OJS) is open source journal management and publishing software developed by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) to improve access to scholarly research. OJS allows journals to manage online submissions and peer review as well as configure various publication options. It is made freely available worldwide to support open access publishing. The continuing development of OJS and other PKP software is overseen by a partnership between PKP, the Canadian Center for Studies in Publishing, and Simon Fraser University Library.
The document summarizes trends in libraries and projects at the UW Tacoma Library. It discusses how libraries have adapted to changes in the information environment like abundance of information online and push technologies. It outlines new roles for librarians like data librarians, digital scholarship librarians, and UX librarians. For UW Tacoma, it envisions the library transitioning from its focus on collections to prioritizing services and becoming integral to the campus community. It highlights faculty and student praise for library support and resources. Upcoming trends and projects may include renovating library space, new technologies, supporting student and faculty scholarship, and enhancing pedagogical support. Key challenges include keeping up with campus growth with limited
You Already Have It Within You: Expanding Your Design Practice to Meet Emergi...Lauren Pressley
The document discusses the benefits of meditation for reducing stress and anxiety. Regular meditation practice can help calm the mind and body by lowering heart rate and blood pressure. Making meditation a part of a daily routine, even if just 10-15 minutes per day, can have mental and physical health benefits over time by helping people feel more relaxed and focused.
Libraries as Liminal Spaces: Transformation in a Time of Change Lauren Pressley
The document discusses the benefits of exercise for mental health. Regular physical activity can help reduce anxiety and depression and improve mood and cognitive function. Exercise causes chemical changes in the brain that may help protect against mental illness and improve symptoms.
The Library as a Liminal Space: Creating, Supporting, and Responding to Change Lauren Pressley
This document discusses a presentation about managing change in academic libraries. It begins with introductions from the presenter about their professional background and leadership models. The presentation then covers identifying changes happening internally and externally to libraries, as well as frameworks for creating, supporting, and responding to change. These include models of organizational change, working with colleagues and supervisors during change processes, and developing personal resilience. The overall goal is to help participants understand and navigate their roles during organizational changes.
The document summarizes a presentation about the changing landscape of academic libraries. It discusses how academic libraries are facing critique on cost and role in higher education. Libraries are asked to prove their value and take on new services with stagnant budgets. The presentation examines how professional associations and consortiums are adapting to changes in library work, profession, and developing adaptive mindsets. It outlines topics like the evolving culture and values of libraries, membership trends in the profession, and using evolutionary and revolutionary approaches to change.
We are makers of change: Creating our shared future Lauren Pressley
This document discusses frameworks for creating change in higher education and libraries. It outlines strategies for being a change agent such as adaptability, problem solving, and focusing on people. Frameworks for leading change include Bolman and Deal's four frames, an 8 step change process, strengths-based approaches, and liberating structures. Tools from the field discussed include programs from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) for demonstrating value, advancing student learning, transforming research, and professional development.
The UW Libraries as a Catalyst for your Research Lauren Pressley
The UW Libraries provide a variety of resources and services to support research at UW Tacoma, including getting resources like subject librarians building collections, training research assistants, the Digital Commons institutional repository, the Foundation Center funding database, using the library as a research site, open scholarship, data and visualization services, consultation on research workflows, and collaboration on student learning.
Taking the Wheel: Charting a Course for a Professional TransformationLauren Pressley
This document outlines a panel discussion on professional transitions in libraries. The panelists, who are library directors and managers, will discuss how they knew they were ready for a career change, how they thought about risk, the resources that helped them transition, lessons they learned, surprises they encountered, how their work has changed, and advice for others considering a transition. The panel hopes to help others navigate organizational changes by sharing their experiences and lessons from their own professional transformations.
This document outlines a framework for building a foundation and approach that empowers others in creating organizational change. It discusses establishing a foundation based on safety, clarity, assessment, systems and empowerment. The recommended approach is agile, values time, emphasizes collaboration and showcasing successes. It also stresses the importance of patience, reflection, communication and relationships. Key themes are the need for lasting, marathon-style change through assessment, adaptation and trying new approaches.
The document discusses various citation management tools including Zotero, RefWorks, Mendeley, EndNote, and Sente. It provides an overview of each tool's features, functionality, and user experience. The presenter aims to help attendees determine which tool may be the best fit based on their needs and preferences by demonstrating how each tool can be used to organize references, attach documents, and insert citations into writing projects. The presentation concludes with suggestions for further topics related to digital research workflows.
Revolutionary Change in Libraries: You Say You Want a RevolutionLauren Pressley
A presentation for the University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions’ (USMAI) Library Managers Community of Practice (LMCOP) July 8, 2015 Forum.
Building Knowledge Together: Interactive Course Exhibits as Project-Based Lea...Lauren Pressley
A presentation for The Innovative Library Classroom conference at Radford, VA on May 12, 2015. Presenters: Brian Mathews, Scott Fralin, and Lauren Pressley
Learning Environments at Virginia Tech University LibrariesLauren Pressley
The document outlines the various services provided by a university library, including online resources, circulation of physical and technological materials, reference support, assistance available throughout the physical library spaces, and programming events. It discusses the goals of each service, such as supporting teaching and student learning, and provides examples of specific types of help that are available, such as creating online course content, offering equipment loans, and showcasing student and faculty work. The overall document serves to introduce faculty to the full range of library resources and how each can be leveraged to enrich teaching and the student experience.
The document discusses how to make the internet work for you by experimenting with, selecting, and investing in various online tools and services. It provides examples of services for collaborating on documents, syncing files, taking notes, managing bookmarks, passwords, alerts and RSS feeds. Browser extensions are also covered. The overall goal is to help users select the best online tools to organize information and stay up to date based on their needs and interests.
Lauren Pressley, Associate Director of Learning & Outreach at Virginia Tech University Libraries, gave a webinar on presentation lessons. She covered different presentation styles including the Lessig Method, Guy Kawasaki's rules, and the TED approach. She emphasized focusing on the audience by understanding their needs and using visuals, stories, and empathy. She also suggested involving the audience through questions and active participation.
The document summarizes a presentation about hacking the learner experience through techniques and strategies for connecting with instructional ecosystems. It discusses using technology to improve people's lives, testing the boundaries of what can be done, focusing on learner taxonomies and models of learning like Bloom's taxonomy, Perry's model of intellectual development, and Kolb's experiential learning cycle. It emphasizes the importance of inquiry-based learning and acknowledging difficulty as part of learning.
A workshop hosted by the South African Journal of Science aimed at postgraduate students and early career researchers with little or no experience in writing and publishing journal articles.
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty, In...Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty,
International FDP on Fundamentals of Research in Social Sciences
at Integral University, Lucknow, 06.06.2024
By Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
The document summarizes trends in libraries and projects at the UW Tacoma Library. It discusses how libraries have adapted to changes in the information environment like abundance of information online and push technologies. It outlines new roles for librarians like data librarians, digital scholarship librarians, and UX librarians. For UW Tacoma, it envisions the library transitioning from its focus on collections to prioritizing services and becoming integral to the campus community. It highlights faculty and student praise for library support and resources. Upcoming trends and projects may include renovating library space, new technologies, supporting student and faculty scholarship, and enhancing pedagogical support. Key challenges include keeping up with campus growth with limited
You Already Have It Within You: Expanding Your Design Practice to Meet Emergi...Lauren Pressley
The document discusses the benefits of meditation for reducing stress and anxiety. Regular meditation practice can help calm the mind and body by lowering heart rate and blood pressure. Making meditation a part of a daily routine, even if just 10-15 minutes per day, can have mental and physical health benefits over time by helping people feel more relaxed and focused.
Libraries as Liminal Spaces: Transformation in a Time of Change Lauren Pressley
The document discusses the benefits of exercise for mental health. Regular physical activity can help reduce anxiety and depression and improve mood and cognitive function. Exercise causes chemical changes in the brain that may help protect against mental illness and improve symptoms.
The Library as a Liminal Space: Creating, Supporting, and Responding to Change Lauren Pressley
This document discusses a presentation about managing change in academic libraries. It begins with introductions from the presenter about their professional background and leadership models. The presentation then covers identifying changes happening internally and externally to libraries, as well as frameworks for creating, supporting, and responding to change. These include models of organizational change, working with colleagues and supervisors during change processes, and developing personal resilience. The overall goal is to help participants understand and navigate their roles during organizational changes.
The document summarizes a presentation about the changing landscape of academic libraries. It discusses how academic libraries are facing critique on cost and role in higher education. Libraries are asked to prove their value and take on new services with stagnant budgets. The presentation examines how professional associations and consortiums are adapting to changes in library work, profession, and developing adaptive mindsets. It outlines topics like the evolving culture and values of libraries, membership trends in the profession, and using evolutionary and revolutionary approaches to change.
We are makers of change: Creating our shared future Lauren Pressley
This document discusses frameworks for creating change in higher education and libraries. It outlines strategies for being a change agent such as adaptability, problem solving, and focusing on people. Frameworks for leading change include Bolman and Deal's four frames, an 8 step change process, strengths-based approaches, and liberating structures. Tools from the field discussed include programs from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) for demonstrating value, advancing student learning, transforming research, and professional development.
The UW Libraries as a Catalyst for your Research Lauren Pressley
The UW Libraries provide a variety of resources and services to support research at UW Tacoma, including getting resources like subject librarians building collections, training research assistants, the Digital Commons institutional repository, the Foundation Center funding database, using the library as a research site, open scholarship, data and visualization services, consultation on research workflows, and collaboration on student learning.
Taking the Wheel: Charting a Course for a Professional TransformationLauren Pressley
This document outlines a panel discussion on professional transitions in libraries. The panelists, who are library directors and managers, will discuss how they knew they were ready for a career change, how they thought about risk, the resources that helped them transition, lessons they learned, surprises they encountered, how their work has changed, and advice for others considering a transition. The panel hopes to help others navigate organizational changes by sharing their experiences and lessons from their own professional transformations.
This document outlines a framework for building a foundation and approach that empowers others in creating organizational change. It discusses establishing a foundation based on safety, clarity, assessment, systems and empowerment. The recommended approach is agile, values time, emphasizes collaboration and showcasing successes. It also stresses the importance of patience, reflection, communication and relationships. Key themes are the need for lasting, marathon-style change through assessment, adaptation and trying new approaches.
The document discusses various citation management tools including Zotero, RefWorks, Mendeley, EndNote, and Sente. It provides an overview of each tool's features, functionality, and user experience. The presenter aims to help attendees determine which tool may be the best fit based on their needs and preferences by demonstrating how each tool can be used to organize references, attach documents, and insert citations into writing projects. The presentation concludes with suggestions for further topics related to digital research workflows.
Revolutionary Change in Libraries: You Say You Want a RevolutionLauren Pressley
A presentation for the University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions’ (USMAI) Library Managers Community of Practice (LMCOP) July 8, 2015 Forum.
Building Knowledge Together: Interactive Course Exhibits as Project-Based Lea...Lauren Pressley
A presentation for The Innovative Library Classroom conference at Radford, VA on May 12, 2015. Presenters: Brian Mathews, Scott Fralin, and Lauren Pressley
Learning Environments at Virginia Tech University LibrariesLauren Pressley
The document outlines the various services provided by a university library, including online resources, circulation of physical and technological materials, reference support, assistance available throughout the physical library spaces, and programming events. It discusses the goals of each service, such as supporting teaching and student learning, and provides examples of specific types of help that are available, such as creating online course content, offering equipment loans, and showcasing student and faculty work. The overall document serves to introduce faculty to the full range of library resources and how each can be leveraged to enrich teaching and the student experience.
The document discusses how to make the internet work for you by experimenting with, selecting, and investing in various online tools and services. It provides examples of services for collaborating on documents, syncing files, taking notes, managing bookmarks, passwords, alerts and RSS feeds. Browser extensions are also covered. The overall goal is to help users select the best online tools to organize information and stay up to date based on their needs and interests.
Lauren Pressley, Associate Director of Learning & Outreach at Virginia Tech University Libraries, gave a webinar on presentation lessons. She covered different presentation styles including the Lessig Method, Guy Kawasaki's rules, and the TED approach. She emphasized focusing on the audience by understanding their needs and using visuals, stories, and empathy. She also suggested involving the audience through questions and active participation.
The document summarizes a presentation about hacking the learner experience through techniques and strategies for connecting with instructional ecosystems. It discusses using technology to improve people's lives, testing the boundaries of what can be done, focusing on learner taxonomies and models of learning like Bloom's taxonomy, Perry's model of intellectual development, and Kolb's experiential learning cycle. It emphasizes the importance of inquiry-based learning and acknowledging difficulty as part of learning.
A workshop hosted by the South African Journal of Science aimed at postgraduate students and early career researchers with little or no experience in writing and publishing journal articles.
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty, In...Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
Exploiting Artificial Intelligence for Empowering Researchers and Faculty,
International FDP on Fundamentals of Research in Social Sciences
at Integral University, Lucknow, 06.06.2024
By Dr. Vinod Kumar Kanvaria
How to Manage Your Lost Opportunities in Odoo 17 CRMCeline George
Odoo 17 CRM allows us to track why we lose sales opportunities with "Lost Reasons." This helps analyze our sales process and identify areas for improvement. Here's how to configure lost reasons in Odoo 17 CRM
How to Add Chatter in the odoo 17 ERP ModuleCeline George
In Odoo, the chatter is like a chat tool that helps you work together on records. You can leave notes and track things, making it easier to talk with your team and partners. Inside chatter, all communication history, activity, and changes will be displayed.
This presentation includes basic of PCOS their pathology and treatment and also Ayurveda correlation of PCOS and Ayurvedic line of treatment mentioned in classics.
How to Build a Module in Odoo 17 Using the Scaffold MethodCeline George
Odoo provides an option for creating a module by using a single line command. By using this command the user can make a whole structure of a module. It is very easy for a beginner to make a module. There is no need to make each file manually. This slide will show how to create a module using the scaffold method.
Strategies for Effective Upskilling is a presentation by Chinwendu Peace in a Your Skill Boost Masterclass organisation by the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan on 08th and 09th June 2024 from 1 PM to 3 PM on each day.
Leveraging Generative AI to Drive Nonprofit InnovationTechSoup
In this webinar, participants learned how to utilize Generative AI to streamline operations and elevate member engagement. Amazon Web Service experts provided a customer specific use cases and dived into low/no-code tools that are quick and easy to deploy through Amazon Web Service (AWS.)
LAND USE LAND COVER AND NDVI OF MIRZAPUR DISTRICT, UPRAHUL
This Dissertation explores the particular circumstances of Mirzapur, a region located in the
core of India. Mirzapur, with its varied terrains and abundant biodiversity, offers an optimal
environment for investigating the changes in vegetation cover dynamics. Our study utilizes
advanced technologies such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Remote sensing to
analyze the transformations that have taken place over the course of a decade.
The complex relationship between human activities and the environment has been the focus
of extensive research and worry. As the global community grapples with swift urbanization,
population expansion, and economic progress, the effects on natural ecosystems are becoming
more evident. A crucial element of this impact is the alteration of vegetation cover, which plays a
significant role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of our planet.Land serves as the foundation for all human activities and provides the necessary materials for
these activities. As the most crucial natural resource, its utilization by humans results in different
'Land uses,' which are determined by both human activities and the physical characteristics of the
land.
The utilization of land is impacted by human needs and environmental factors. In countries
like India, rapid population growth and the emphasis on extensive resource exploitation can lead
to significant land degradation, adversely affecting the region's land cover.
Therefore, human intervention has significantly influenced land use patterns over many
centuries, evolving its structure over time and space. In the present era, these changes have
accelerated due to factors such as agriculture and urbanization. Information regarding land use and
cover is essential for various planning and management tasks related to the Earth's surface,
providing crucial environmental data for scientific, resource management, policy purposes, and
diverse human activities.
Accurate understanding of land use and cover is imperative for the development planning
of any area. Consequently, a wide range of professionals, including earth system scientists, land
and water managers, and urban planners, are interested in obtaining data on land use and cover
changes, conversion trends, and other related patterns. The spatial dimensions of land use and
cover support policymakers and scientists in making well-informed decisions, as alterations in
these patterns indicate shifts in economic and social conditions. Monitoring such changes with the
help of Advanced technologies like Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems is
crucial for coordinated efforts across different administrative levels. Advanced technologies like
Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
9
Changes in vegetation cover refer to variations in the distribution, composition, and overall
structure of plant communities across different temporal and spatial scales. These changes can
occur natural.
ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, and GDPR: Best Practices for Implementation and...PECB
Denis is a dynamic and results-driven Chief Information Officer (CIO) with a distinguished career spanning information systems analysis and technical project management. With a proven track record of spearheading the design and delivery of cutting-edge Information Management solutions, he has consistently elevated business operations, streamlined reporting functions, and maximized process efficiency.
Certified as an ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) Lead Implementer, Data Protection Officer, and Cyber Risks Analyst, Denis brings a heightened focus on data security, privacy, and cyber resilience to every endeavor.
His expertise extends across a diverse spectrum of reporting, database, and web development applications, underpinned by an exceptional grasp of data storage and virtualization technologies. His proficiency in application testing, database administration, and data cleansing ensures seamless execution of complex projects.
What sets Denis apart is his comprehensive understanding of Business and Systems Analysis technologies, honed through involvement in all phases of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). From meticulous requirements gathering to precise analysis, innovative design, rigorous development, thorough testing, and successful implementation, he has consistently delivered exceptional results.
Throughout his career, he has taken on multifaceted roles, from leading technical project management teams to owning solutions that drive operational excellence. His conscientious and proactive approach is unwavering, whether he is working independently or collaboratively within a team. His ability to connect with colleagues on a personal level underscores his commitment to fostering a harmonious and productive workplace environment.
Date: May 29, 2024
Tags: Information Security, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, Artificial Intelligence, GDPR
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Article: https://pecb.com/article
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Liberal Approach to the Study of Indian Politics.pdf
Charting a Clear Course: A State of the Learning Commons
1. CHARTING A
CLEAR COURSE
A State of the Learning Commons
Lauren Pressley | pressley@uw.edu | @laurenpressley
Director, UWTacoma Library | Associate Dean, University ofWashington Libraries
#CommonSpaces
Problem
Though I have worked on learning spaces and thinking about user experience
New experience of an administrator asking for a Learning Commons
Significance
Talked to colleagues at other institutions and found that, anecdotally, many libraries either had a learning commons or were being asked to create one
Given this opportunity, I wanted to understand the current state of Learning Commons within the field
When talking with these peers, much of what people shared is that they knew anecdotal stories or had read articles about specific projects, but had not seen a systemic view of Learning Commons in recent history.
Method
The result of this project is a literature review of recent publications dealing with Learning Commons.
It lays the groundwork for a more systemic research project, should anyone be interested in pursuing that.
Libraries began experimenting with spaces that might today be thought of as commons in the 90s.
Shift around the same time that pedagogical trends moved towards constructive learning environments in which learners build their own learning and away from information transfer.
One clear change reflected in this trend was academic libraries repositioning themselves to facilitate community learning beyond primarily focusing on providing access to information.
The 2010s found a widespread adoption of a pedagogical emphasis on student led inquiry and collaborative learning.
This model also meant a new emphasis for libraries, moving from providing resources and tools to providing an environment in which users could build knowledge and practice self-directed learning.
This new way of thinking about commons spaces in libraries has meant that learning commons are not necessarily designed around an expert that students must seek behind a desk, but rather are conceived of as a user-centered space in partnership with those that would use it.
Librarians and other stakeholders bring professional expertise to planning these spaces, and community users bring expertise about their lived experiences.
Most recently, collaboration has been increasingly recognized as a core competency of the 21st century, and higher education has embraced curricular and pedagogical approaches to enhance students’ collaborative practices.
Collaboration is recognized as a necessary competency, and learning commons spaces and services are often developed with a baseline assumption that collaboration will be central to the work within and of the space in a given learning commons, today.
These recent transitions towards user-centered learning commons models and philosophies mirror those of higher education in general.
As higher education shifts from instruction to learning, towards a more interdisciplinary approach, and is increasingly focused on competency and creation, learning commons spaces enable the campus to have a concrete place and service model helping students and faculty navigate this transition.
Most interestingly, learning commons spaces are both a transformative environment for users as well as a powerful tool to demonstrate the library’s connection to the work of the larger institution. With a firm grounding in campus documentation and initiatives, a learning commons can be uniquely positioned to help the larger institution meet its goals
Rich history of publication,
In particular want to paint out Rebecca M. Sullivan’s 2010 Commons Knowledge article in College & Undergraduate Libraries
I found it extremely useful and thorough, and due to this, I investigated the literature since the publication of this article.
Space
Technology
Service
Administration
Much of the literature addresses the implementation of learning commons spaces through the lens of facilities,
the creation of this type of space is often framed as part of a transition from library as an information repository to library as a learning enterprise.
Learning commons spaces are also typically created with a sense of designed aesthetic.
Lighting, the influence of noise in the space, the density of furniture, available avenues for support, and signage all lead to a design that can enhance or detract from learning. Noise, in particular, can be a challenge as so many people associate libraries with quiet space while learning commons spaces inevitably become noisier.
students repeatedly identify multiple space needs including individual silent spaces for study and reading, casual workspaces to fill time between classes, and collaborative meeting spaces for group work.
When planning the space, it is important to match the design of the space to the learning goals or outcomes for your students. Collaboratively mapping out these goals and plans with other stakeholders and potential users will allow the vision of the learning commons to be co-created and the space to be more effective.
Understanding local learning culture provides a strong foundation for this work.
Understanding the larger institution’s mission, vision, and values will provide context for thinking about what to prioritize.
With a firm grounding in institutional goals and user needs, a collaborative team can explore what to prioritize within the primary features of student-centered space: comfort, aesthetics, flow, equity, blending, affordances, and the potential for repurposing.
Another dimension of learning commons spaces to consider is space for formal and informal events, from small meetings to programs to large receptions and other occasions.
These spaces are common features in learning commons spaces, though a community is not likely to think to ask for them if they do not already have experience with the library providing these types of spaces.
Though there are cases of learning commons spaces that rely primarily on low-cost flexible furniture and shared service spaces, technology is frequently a key component of learning common spaces.
Overwhelmingly the emphasis is that technology should be easy to use and not get in the way of the subject area learning that is taking place in these spaces.
Most learning commons spaces include computer workstations clusters that are intentionally designed with the philosophy of the space.
Rather than rows of computers, these computing environments provide students with enough room to spread out their materials while working with the technology.
The varied approaches to technology in learning commons spaces include traditional technologies like desktops to newer tools such as tablets and multimedia recorders.
Learning commons spaces that are technology heavy tend to provide services as well, including consultations and workshops.
This support may span from learning how to use the tools that are provided to helping users identify the most effective tools to use for their desired outcomes.
Understanding local community needs will help determine the technology program for the space.
If the institution requires significant collaborative assignments, technology infused group workstations will enable students to work together on projects.
If an institution requires a number of multimedia projects, learning commons planning should include digital media support, from tools to training.
At this point, the literature indicates most learning commons spaces utilize a mix of library provided computers and a Bring Your Own Device model.
The more flexible spaces require more mobile computing, but that does not preclude the library from circulating laptops.
A heavier reliance on laptops also requires sufficient power and wireless internet throughout the space.
Another trend in learning commons is the introduction of makerspaces.
Some learning commons are an entirely separate program from the library’s makerspace, while others bring in pieces of equipment common to makerspaces or offer maker-inspired programming within the space.
Learning commons spaces should be designed so that there are services and mechanisms for students regardless of their level of technology expertise.
It may be especially important to view learning commons spaces as an ongoing experiment in order to adjust as local practices and needs change over time.
There are a number of services that are common to learning commons collaborations. Reference is almost always a core service. Circulation and Reserves are often framed as either part of the learning commons or closely related.
Writing Centers are the most frequently listed service provider that is not typically part of the library’s organizational structure. Writing support is a natural partner as both reference and writing consultation services are often tied to the same assignment. Both services support students throughout the assignment lifecycle, and both support classes and the curriculum through classroom visits and consultations.
Tutoring services also are included in a number of learning commons spaces, so that in addition to writing support, students can find help with math, science, and other disciplines. Co-locating academic support for courses can lead to study groups making use of the space and creates a place in which students can expect to find relevant workshops to support assignments with expertise from a number of relevant units.
Academic support extends to other areas as well. Technology is frequently cited as a relevant service to consider for a learning commons. Some learning commons spaces co-locate a campus help desk for general IT needs. Other learning commons spaces focus on a deeper connection to the learning mission of the space, and partner with academic technology. This collaboration enables support for digital assignments and navigation within the campus Learning Management System.
A few specialized services that do not obviously tie to coursework appear in a number of learning commons spaces as well. Disability services is frequently cited, certainly benefiting a number of students. Career services is often mentioned as well, likely building on student expectations of learning commons spaces as places that provide relevant information for their goals and will help them succeed.
One area of service across many learning commons programs that may be a surprise to some libraries is support for faculty pedagogical development. Some learning commons spaces integrate innovative classroom designs to encourage faculty exploration. Some provide expertise and consultation for designing assignments and academic assessment. Others hold workshops and training to support faculty members’ use of academic technology exploration and integration of new pedagogical models in general.
Beyond specific offices, there are a number of types of services that one can expect in learning commons spaces. Consultations, workshops, clinics, reading groups, tutorials, meet-ups, coaching for writing and presentations, and technology support to aid student learning may all exist within a given learning commons. In many cases these spaces offer not just curricular support, but also workshops, events, and exhibits designed to expose the community to the intellectual and cultural output of the institution through showcasing student and faculty work.
Administratively speaking, learning commons models do not have a standard approach to administration. This is likely due to the local contexts and histories behind the units that come together to support student learning in these spaces. In some cases, the library manages all of the units in the space. In others, a few units report through the library while others do not. There are cases where the library is a coordinator of the space and related services though none of the units report through the library. It is not clear at this point whether any particular approach can be identified as the ideal model for most institutions, but rather that institutions have to identify what makes the most sense given their goals, their history, and the people available to participate in the work.
Regardless of the formal administrative structure, a deep collaborative relationship does appear to be necessary for success. Early work to establish a collaborative planning culture that is focused on learning is essential. Similarly, it is worth noting that cross training appears again and again in the literature. Many institutions describe the learning commons as a cohesive unit in which all members can either help with or quickly refer any user need.
Implementation of the learning commons varies as well. Most learning commons spaces have a central service desk, though the design of the actual desk may be influenced by what is expected to happen there. For example, in-depth research assistance may lend itself to a student sitting down and settling in. Quick stop support may lead to a standing desk, encouraging staff to step away to help someone or walk a user to the person that they need. In the best cases, services are fairly integrated. However it is worth noting that the literature does illustrate that without a firm grounding in collaboration and shared goals, services may physically reside in the same space but offer a disjointed user experience.
Services are often offered through a central desk, as mentioned above, or triaged through a central point staffed either by a full-time employee or trained student. A number of learning commons spaces experiment with roving student employees, to answer basic questions and to refer users to someone who can help with more complicated requests. Some learning commons spaces include consultation booths so that when a user has a more in-depth request they can get help in a somewhat private environment.
Regardless, it is worth noting that the literature repeatedly finds that in order to succeed the units offering services within the commons need to communicate well, share broad institutional knowledge, and share a commitment to the Learning Commons vision.
When thinking about learning commons spaces and services, the importance of local context, the necessity to get students and stakeholders to help design the service and space, and what makes sense to implement for a given institution, it can be useful to think about edge cases.
There may be additional academic support that makes sense for a given institution. Grand Valley State University provides data management, analysis, and visualization support. Georgia Tech offers presentation practice space with recording capabilities. The University of Guelph in Ontario offers support for English language learners through workshops and one-on-one consultations for writing, speaking, listening, and reading. Some learning commons spaces offer services that span curricular and social spheres. North Carolina State University’s D. H. Hill Library includes gaming consoles in their learning commons and a Creativity Studio in their new Hunt Library. In each of these cases there is a clear local need that has been identified as potentially useful to students in a specific learning commons.
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Though there is not a broadly adopted set of practices for learning commons spaces at this point in time, they have been widely adopted across many academic libraries. The exact implementation varies widely enough that it is risky to assume what the model looks like in any given institution. This paper reviewed the literature in order to provide a current state of the learning commons. This distillation should provide some general services and approaches that may be useful for most organizations, and could certainly be considered as part of institutional and strategic planning.
Many of the ideas identified within this paper are spreading throughout library spaces. Food, flexible and collaborative space, and integrated services are common philosophical approaches at many libraries, and not limited to learning commons spaces. As with learning commons spaces, most libraries take into account the physical, virtual, and cultural dynamics of their work. In all of this, libraries and learning commons are seeking to pull together spaces, services, and resources so that when a user has a need, it can be met. In some ways the learning commons connects libraries to something people have long positively attributed to the institution: serendipity.
As we have seen throughout this paper, successful learning commons spaces involve intentional planning for space, services, and resources (both information and technology). Lessons learned from the design of these spaces may be useful in evolving the library and other spaces throughout a given campus.
In planning for the future, it is absolutely critical to include institutional priorities, learning goals, student learning behaviors, and space design. With a strong grounding in this data, a collaborative process to build a vision, and a focus on keeping learning at the center of the discussion, libraries can design valuable learning commons spaces for their communities. These spaces can improve student learning, clearly map the work of the library to the mission of the larger institution, and can have a transformational impact on their institution, the users, and the larger community.