Janell McClure CCSD Supervisor, Library Media Education

Reimagining Learning in the 21 st Century Purpose for Viewing: How does our current educational model and environment encourage 21st century learning? Or does it? Can it? How does a Learning Commons model accommodate this shift in learning?

 A full-service learning, research, and project space  A flexible environment built to accommodate multiple learning activities  Brings together the functions of libraries, labs, lounges, and seminar areas  Empowers active and collaborative learning and a participatory culture  “Invites students to devise their own approaches to their work and to transfer what they learn in one course to the work they do for another,” (Educause,2011).

“…liberates the exploration of ideas and concepts, encouraging inquiry, imagination, discovery and creativity through the connection of learners to information, to each other and to communities around the world.” “Media Literacy and Learning Commons in the Digital Age: Toward a Knowledge Model for Successful Integration into the 21 st Century School Library,” by Dr. Paul Mihailidis.

“…alive with the voices of students working together, establishing the kinds of connections that promote active, engaged learning,” (Educause, 2011).  Interaction  Dialogue  Online videos  Voice over recordings  Video conferencing capabilities  Collaboration among peers, teachers, and community members

 Welcoming  Comfortable  Accommodating  Free to interact  Trusting  Flexible  Mobile  Non-threatening  Helpful “The focus is one in which a collaborative environment can help reframe the library away from a place where there should be no interaction, noise, or dialogue to one that is open, friendly, creative, and interactive,” (Mihailidis, 2012).

Brookwood High School Brookwood High School – Gwinnett County Purpose for Viewing: How does this Learning Commons model accommodate the needs of the 21 st century learner we heard about earlier? How do these ideas and this space inform our instructional practices?

 Four concept schools identified: Mt. Bethel ES, Smitha MS, Daniell MS, and Campbell High with eight more on the list  Developing new media center specs to include common areas found in a Learning Commons model  Instructional Area to include stationary lab and mobile tables/seating  Social/Cyber area (MS and HS only)  Soft seating - mobile  Collaboration stations  Independent study chairs - mobile  Group study area – mobile, modular tables and chairs  Project tables/maker space  Updating bid list vendors and products

Documents found under the Learning Commons tab on the LME blog:  Transforming to a CCSD Learning Commons: 10 Initial Steps to your Innovation Destination  Traditional Library vs. Learning Commons  Additional Resources such as articles, books, and websites “And yet the successful learning commons does not depend solely upon adaptable space configuration or the latest technological gear. Its strength lies in the relationships it supports, whether these are student-to-student, student-to-faculty, student-to-staff, student-to-equipment, or student-to-information,” (Educause, 2011).