Learning Commons for Teaching Professionals


Transition from Library to Learning Commons for Professionals


My vision plan is very complex and cumbersome for one single teacher to take on. As I mentioned before, I plan on developing a workable reference for the Calgary School Board employees, beginning Teacher Librarians and possibly any educational professional who would like more insight on transitioning from a traditional library to a Learning Commons and what it looks like in Canada.  The best to the point explanation of what a Learning Commons is would be mentioned in Leading Learning that a “library learning commons is the physical and virtual collaborative learning hub of the school (pg5).” Back in 2014 the Calgary School Board participated in a pilot program of 11 schools transitioning from a traditional library to a learning commons. Douglasdale Elementary School provides a great video of the success of their transition.




The needs I believe professionals in the CBE (Calgary School Board) would benefit from would be developing a mission statement, policies and procedures manuals for their Learning Commons. An example the CBE mission statement on their website for a Learning Commons is as follows:

Today’s learners cannot imagine life without the internet and supporting technology. They are accustomed to the immediate and social nature of information and communication. The concept of the traditional library is changing to include technology, online tools, and spaces for collaboration and exploration.
A Learning Commons:
  • supports the development of students’ skill in gathering, analyzing, and evaluating information
  • is resource-rich, including print, digital, visual, auditory, social, and other types of resources
  • houses technology to allow students to create, collaborate, and communicate
  • is a dynamic space with a buzz – somewhere where learning is visible and audible
  • is a flexible space to meet the needs of learners and teachers, often including multiple teaching and learning environments
  • is a place for collaboration, inquiry, imagination, and play

This will give CBE employees a great start on the direction they want to go with their own individual school mission statement, while staying true to the Boards mission.

There are so many needs a teacher librarian or teacher will need to understand what a learning commons is and how to use the space efficiently. Because many schools in the CBE does not have TL’s but librarian assistants instead this document will benefit all employees on how to use the space and what available resources are to be successful in the transition.

Retrieved from google


Resources

Calgary Board of Education Douglasdale School - Learning Commons Grand Opening. Retrieved Nov 15 from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9AMlQnDdHE

Calgary Board of Education. Technology for learning. Retrieved Nov 13 from: http://www.cbe.ab.ca/programs/technology-for-learning/Pages/default.aspx
MacDonell, C. (2004). Essential documents for school libraries: Do you have them? LMC 22(7), 18-19.

Leading Learning. Retrieved Nov 13 from: http://apsds.org/wp-content/uploads/Standards-of-Practice-for-SchoolLibrary-Learning-Commons-in-Canada-2014.pdf

Comments

  1. Unknown19 November 2017 at 18:25

    Guiding documents as mentioned in your post is a great idea and I think will prove to be very useful in developing and transitioning to a LLC. It also is helpful to the LLC users to know the the operation of the LLC as well as it goal or mission. I agree with you that it is a big undertaking but step by step, phase by phase, I think you will get there.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Aaron Mueller20 November 2017 at 06:57

    A very good discussion and example of what the transition from a library to a learning commons can do for a school, what it looks like and some connections to supportive documents like Leading Learning. A good overview of your large lofty goals and what you hope to achieve and why it is important to you and the educational environment in Alberta and Calgary.

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