Learning+Commons+For+WSS


 * WSS AND THE LEARNING COMMONS CONCEPT: **

**I. WHAT IS A LEARNING COMMONS AND WHY DO WE NEED ONE? **

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[|Together For Learning: School Libraries and the Emergence of the Learning Commons] [|What is a Learning Commons, Anyway] [|School Library or Learning Commons: What's in a Name?] [|It’s Time: Create Smart Policies to Support Student Tech Use] [|Libraries Without Walls]

 **II. TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE! ** [|The Librarian's Locker@the JHSS Learning Common] [|Much to Learn from Vancouver, BC - EBSCO] [|Concord-Carlisle Transitions to a Learning Commons] [|MA School Library Transforms intoNew Learning Commons]

 **III. 21st Century Learning Skills Supported by Learning Commons: **  <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Top Ten Research Skills for First Year University Students] <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Dear Teachers: The Learning Commons and the Future of Learning]

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: left;"> **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">IV. THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN CHANGING TO A LEARNING COMMONS: ** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> [|Bring Back Shushing Librarians]​ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Are you a Learning Commons or converting? LC as sandbox]

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;"> The Learning Commons experts remind us that it is not the comfy furniture or the added technology that makes a Library a Learning Commons - what is important is the program that supports inquiry, sharing and collaboration with both students and staff.

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;"> Many librarians and teacher-librarians, who have created learning commons, are also expressing concerns about the effect of a noisy, sometimes overactive room that does not offer spaces and areas for students who need quiet to concentrate in order to do their work. If we turn the Learning Commons/Library into primarily a social lounge for students we will lose a space for those students who see the Library as their haven and a good place to study. Many students actually do need a quiet area to successfuly concentrate, on and produce their best work. This is a concern I am seeing over and over again in the Literature and on Twitter, blog, and Forum posts.

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: left;"> //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 19.3333px;">"According to Carol Koechlin (Learning Commons guru), it's important to recognize that without a recognizable program to support inquiry, sharing, // <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: left;"> //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 19.3333px;">and collaboration (for both students and faculty) bringing in new furniture // <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: left;"> //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 19.3333px;">doesn't necessarily turn a 'library' into a 'learning commons'." //

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: left;"> //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 19.3333px;">"However, I wasn't careful for what I wished for (a vibrant hub within the school)...and now we are facing a backlash (as Al pointed out in his blog post) in that quiet spaces for students and faculty have become scarce and sacred. A healthy balance is what we are now seeking." (Courtesy of Jeff Yasinchuk - on BCTLA Forum) - //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 19.3333px;">Thanks to Jeff for granting permission to use this //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 19.3333px;">. //

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: left;"> **<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">V. LEARNING OUTCOMES AND STANDARDS THAT THE LEARNING COMMONS AND TEACHER LIBRARIAN CAN HELP YOU WITH: ** <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"> [|Draft Digital Literacy Standards] <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"> [|Why "Googling It" is Not Enough]

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: left;"> **<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">VI. WSS Wish List From Pinterest: ** <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;"> Check out some ideas for new furnishings in [|the WSS Library]. We are working on embedding this Pinterest board but wanted you to see it now.

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