Learning the Learning Commons:How UNK Moved Out of the Silos and into a Dance Hall
Keri Pearson, Dr. Ron WirtzUniversity of Nebraska at Kearney
Vision Transition Reality The Future
http://silverspeaks.com/blogs/2011/01/dancing-with-change-step-3/
Learning the Learning Commons
Silo-ed Existence (2009)
Writing Center housed in the Library but with very little collaboration beyond space
Peer Tutoring in a hallway of the Student Affairs building and typically regarded as a remedial service
Learning the Learning Commons:Vision
Library “Gate Count”
Learning the Learning Commons:Vision
Learning the Learning Commons:Vision
Library Study Space
Learning the Learning Commons:Vision
Changing Leadership
Learning the Learning Commons:Vision
Original Writing Center Space
Spring 2009 Program Review
Learning the Learning Commons:Vision
Learning the Learning Commons:Vision
Original Peer Tutoring Space
serendipity, n.Pronunciation: /sɛrɛnˈdɪpɪtɪ/ Etymology:A word coined by Horace Walpole, who says (Let. to Mann, 28 Jan. 1754) that he had formed it upon the title of the fairy-tale ‘The Three Princes of Serendip’, the heroes of which ‘were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of’.
The faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident.
From: Oxford English Dictionary (Online)
Learning the Learning Commons:Vision
Learning the Learning Commons:Vision
Ideas between Deans of the Library and Student Affairs moved “up” to higher administration
The UNK Mission Statement was a developmental focal point.
III. Student Development Goal (Objective 1): Develop a comprehensive strategy that will guide planning and activity outside the formal academic curriculum to enhance each student’s cognitive and moral development, interpersonal skills, and prospects for satisfaction and success at UNK and in life after graduation.
Articulate a framework of principles and common objectives, and establish collaborative mechanisms, enabling units to cooperate across organizational boundaries to enhance student retention, graduation, and career placement results.
Bridge Academic and Student Affairs programming to integrate living and learning experiences for students…
Learning the Learning Commons:Vision
SPACE: “… an environment that enhances social interaction and cross
disciplinary learning outside the classroom.”1
GOAL: “The main goal of the Learning Commons is to provide, in a centralized
location, as many academic support services for students as possible.” 2
MECHANISM: “The core activity of a learning commons would not be the manipulation
and mastery of information… but the collaborative learning by which students turn information into knowledge and sometimes into wisdom.”3
1 http://dbilyeu.cocc.edu/21st+Century+Library/default.aspx2 http://www.cla.ca/divisions/cacul/regenerations/2009/02/whats-common-about-learning-commons.html3 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1232&context=libraryscience&seiredir=1#search= %22Learning%20Commons%20Nebraska%22
Learning the Learning Commons:Vision
Library Resourcesand Services
TechnologyResources
StudentAffairs
UNKLearning
Commons
Learning the Learning Commons:Transition
Learning Commons models vary but often include:
writing and math/statistics help study rooms desktop computers with a variety of software
packages reference/research help study skills help IT point-of-need assistance assistive technology for students with disabilities laptop computers for loan, printing
Learning the Learning Commons:Vision
Vision Transition Reality The Future
Learning the Learning Commons
The UNK Learning Commons (UNKLC) in 2010:
Peer Tutoring: peer assistance for general studies courses (especially business, languages, math and science)
Writing Center: peer assistance at any stage of the writing process
Calvin T. Ryan (CTR) Library: book collections and electronic resources for student research with ample study space and technology access
Learning the Learning Commons:Transition
Learning the Learning Commons:Transition
Peer Tutoring offices moved into the Writing Center in Summer 2010
Plan: build the LC over the summer to open in Fall 2010
Transform the Writing Center space into the Learning Commons Offices
“Challenges Arose”
Learning the Learning Commons:Transition
Learning the Learning Commons:Transition
Collaboration between programs and with the Library was ongoing despite the temporary delay in construction. Hiring process for a Writing Center/Learning
Commons Assistant Director Additional technology in the general Library
space and technology support Project planning at Dean and higher
administrative levels
Learning the Learning Commons:Transition
Vision Transition Reality The Future
Learning the Learning Commons
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
The UNK Learning Commons opened with much fanfare in its permanent space in Fall 2011
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
Gate count for years following the development of the Learning Commons increased 30%
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
Many “united front” efforts were made to ensure the success of the LC and, thereby, its student
users.
Marketing pieces work to tie services and the Library together.
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
“BlueTube” video for prospective students
http://bit.ly/17XP90d
“Louie the Loper Learns a Lot” for freshmen students
http://bit.ly/19Z7CHd
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
Fall 2011 “Game Night”
Fall 2012 “Freshman Orientation”
Fall 2012 “Lib Quiz”
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
Learning Commons Coordinating Council (LCCC or LC3)
2 partners from Student Affairs, 2 partners from the Library
Learning Commons Assistant Director for the Library
Compares to the Learning Commons Assistant Director position in Student Affairs
Administrative Support
Calvin T. Ryan (CTR) Library
Peer Tutoring
Writing Center
Supplemental Instruction
Language Tables
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
Calvin T. Ryan (CTR) Library
Peer Tutoring
Writing Center
Additional services
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
Assessment: Tracking referrals between LC services and Library services “Assessment in Action: Academic Libraries and Student Services” with ACRL
NLA Poster Presentation June 26-July 1 Fuels the development of “a variety of approaches to assessing library
impact on student learning, which will be documented and disseminated for use by the wider academic library and higher education communities” http://www.ala.org/acrl/AiA
Programming: Undergraduate Research Seminars
Additional collaboration
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
September: IRBOctober: Literature Review (Library)November: College SpeakerJanuary: Writing & Citing (Writing Center)February: College SpeakerMarch: Poster PresentationsApril: College Speaker
2012-14 Undergraduate Research Seminar schedule
Vision Transition Reality The Future
Learning the Learning Commons
Presentation technology integrated in the UNKLC and Library
http://www.touchwindow.com/c/KTLC-40N.html
Learning the Learning Commons:The Future
Improved understanding of student use of services
Learning the Learning Commons:The Future
Learning the Learning Commons:The Future
Tutor training integrating information literacy
Learning the Learning Commons:The Future
Potentially, the gradual migration of other student services as more Library space is available
Shaded area shows proposed expansion space
Learning the Learning Commons:Reality
Learning the Learning Commons
Learning the Learning Commons
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cymLAd2M_io/TcPP3YRXKAI/AAAAAAAAADk/DC78eNJQ0BI/s1600/danceHall.jpg
Learning the Learning Commons:How UNK Moved Out of the Silos and into a Dance Hall
www.unk.edu/lc
Keri Pearson, Dr. Ron WirtzUniversity of Nebraska at Kearney