Final Vision Project Scope

Final Vision Project – Blog Post #1

Retrieved from 

https://alicebrown.sd35.bc.ca/learning-commons/what-is-the-library-learning-commons/ 

Since I am currently not in a school library, I would like to transform my future library into a learning commons that meets the literacy needs of the school community, 21^st century learning, and BC’s NewCurriculum.

The LC would incorporate the “NCTE [National Council of Teachers of Education] for 21^st Century Curriculum and Assessment” whose framework can be found at

http://www.ncte.org/governance/21stcenturyframework.

Also, there are many good documents, articles, workshops, and websites that discuss about the importance of LC for collaboration, problem solving, inquiry, critical thinking, innovation, and flexible learning.  The following resources are very helpful in the transformation of a traditional school library into a learning commons:

BCTLA’s website on “Learning Commons…” resources that can be retrieved from

http://bctf.ca/bctla/info/learningcommons.html

Ekdahl, Moira & Zubke, Sylvia.  (2017) Learning Commons:  A Pro-Active Model for Educational Change.  British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association.  Retrieved from http://bctf.ca/bctla/pub/documents/2017/SL2LLC.pdf

Leading Learning: Standards of Practice for School Library Learning Commons in Canada.  (2014).  Canadian Library Association.  Retrieved from

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

The following 2011 BC Libraries’ YouTube video, “Learning Commons in BC”, can be retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LglFl1BYfFs&lr=1&feature=mhsn

For my vision of the future project, I would like to start building a prototype LC’s website that will allow students, teachers and parents easy 24 hour access to literacy and other pertinent information.

Some examples of elementary websites for inspiration that I was looking at for creating my own ongoing website are:

Gleneagles Cha’axay Wikibrary in the West Vancouver Schools

https://sites.google.com/a/sd45.bc.ca/gleneagles-wikibrary/

Kaechele Library Learning Commons in the Henrico County Public Schools

https://sites.google.com/site/kaechelelibrary/

Norma Rose Point Learning Commons in the Vancouver School District

http://go.vsb.bc.ca/schools/normarosepoint/Library/Pages/default.aspx

The Adventures of Library Girl blog
http://www.librarygirl.net/2011/08/5-things-every-school-library-website.html

Some ideas that I might include in my LC website are:

·      Flexible space – collaboration, problem solving, hub

·      Open space – readily available access to the LC, gathering place, 

·      Digital and print resources, links to my blog or twitter/instagram accounts

·      Maker space – coding, building, arts and crafts,

·      Community events and workshops, public library programs

·      Literacy events, school events, parent events

·      Literacy circle

·      Book and website recommendations by TL, students, & teachers

·      Academic honesty, citing resources, research starting points

·      On-line library, Webcat – online library catalogue, e-books, databases

·      Policy and Procedures

·      Inquiry Learning, Points of Inquiry

·      Aboriginal Ways of Learning

·      Technology – iPads, apps, chrome books, smartboard

·      BC’s New Curriculum

·      Pictures, videos, and articles about collaborating with other classes