Group activity:
Analyzing institutional contexts on the innovation:
we choose
2.HKU Learning Commons potential to impart on faculty teaching and student learning
A.The key function:－－HUANG Luyi( Louise)
Generally speaking , Learning common's function can divide into two prat:
1. student-centered learning environment
Basically , learning common is a place where designed for student's learning . It's a complex learning environment which emphasize on the sharing , communication and network. This kind of environment is innovative, you can see others , someone is studying by their own, some peoples are sitting around to talk , some people are asking for assistant. But in a traditional library, all you can see is others are watching book and watching to the screen of a computer. That's the key role of a learning common , an open and student-centered environment instead of a close environment.
2.Facilities Center
It provide PC, uPrint, conference screen,coffee area,study tables, sofas, air-condition. All of these facilities, you can get from learning common without extra fee. So learning common is a facilities center where provide you all of these physical facilities.
So to be specific , a learning common can support different types of learning and activities:
1.Individual study
There are all-in-one desktop for individual learning ,there are individual study tables which allow the wireless network. This facilities support the individual learning.Students can use their own computer or the desktop in learning commons for information searching and doing assignment alone.
2.Collaborative study
Learning common is an collaborative learning area where students are allowed to talk! This is the essential difference between the traditional library. In this case, learning common can be an idea place for collaborative study. Students can discuss the questions in the open area, corporate on creating something in a study room, using the computers and the screen for practice the presentations. The facilitates provide a comfortable and open environment for collaborative learning, that's the most innovative features because in traditional library students are not permitted for discussing or making any noise. But learning common is opposite, it encourage the "noise", it encourage the speak and share.
3.Social communication
People can not only use this place for study, they can also do some social activities here, just like hanging out with friends, watching a leisure book and talk about their daily life here. This might be a different kind of study, the real life study. Social communication is also important in students daily life, why not use this place for meeting new friends, bonding with friends and make a close relationship to others.
4.Self-improvement
Learning common is a student-centered study area, but it also provide some advisory services. These advisory services is different from the class teaching, they are targeted. Students can get the help from professional staff according to their individual need. To get the advices and tutors's help can be an innovative leanring for self-improvement.
B.The role of learning common--- Qi Yang (Carol)
Learning common constructs a dynamic teaching and learning environment. It is defined as a shared or common space in which students, teachers and others can come together to interact Iust like a liasion among students, teachers and IT facilitors. Tthe concept of the Learning Commons has evolved as learners needs have changed, and is regard as student-centered learning space where the expertise of numerous campus specialists is available in a highly collaborative, integrated learning environment—a physical space in the HKU Library dedicated to meeting the rapidly changing needs of students and faculty in a “one-stop-shopping” experience. Once confined to the traditional study spaces available in their libraries, university students now seek out a wider range of options for study that will suit their needs at any point in time.
Expect from liasion among teachers and students, learning common act as server who offers services include:
All in all, the role of learning commons is a learning space beyond the classroom which sustains the learning experience from the class session into other learning contexts. It provides an integrated work environment for students and academics with learning spaces and technologies that support learning theory principles. Its characters are student-centred learning, flexible learning methodologies, and single point of access to support services. The learning commons is a learning hub which facilitates socialisation as part of the learning experience. In a wider context they can provide integrated services for academic staff as well as students and support innovation in teaching and learning. The underlying principles are: Co-location, Cooperation, and Collaboration.
C.Comparison--Learning commons VS Main library ---Yao Ruyan (Abby)
1.Resources
In the main library,it offers many kinds of resources like books ,movies datas and radios.
In the learning commons,there is no any of those kinds of resources.
2.Facilities
In the main library,there are computers,facilities for playing movies and radios and printers.But the computers are mainly offering for looking for books and other resources;and only the computers in the third floor can be used for hours for one person which needs to be booked.
In the learning commons,it offers computers can be used for personal with unlimited time and printers all floors expect the first floor.
3.Atomsphere
In the main library,it offers a quiet place for students to read references and study.
In the learning commons,it is all free style.It is a big sharing space supporting group discussion,pair work.Students can do group work in every floor in the learning commons.There is quite learning space for the students who want to study alone.
D.Self experiences and suggestions to HKU learning common
1.HUANG Luyi(Louise)
In my own experience, I just try about using the computer , self-study with my own PC ,discuss in the study-room for group assignment. Although I know that it doesn't completely open for some services and facilities. But I can also see the potential of leaning common ,just as I said above. But there are some suggestions I want to give to the HKU learning common which I think can improve the quality of it.
2.Qi Yang (Carol)
The most inpressive feeling I gained is the technological features there are quite excellent. There are over one hundred computer workstations, lots of group work areas and study rooms, moveable whiteboards designed for group work and flexibility, and other useful facilities. The Learning Common has been renovated to be at the heart of our university community of learning. University departments and programs, as well as student groups, may book the space through the college office for co-curricular activities.
3.Yao Ruyan (Abby)
The first time I went to the learning commons was for our group discussion.William booked a separated discussion room for our group and it equipped with screen supporting group work sharing.I really felt free for exchanging ideas each other.
I also went there several times for self learning.I brought my own notebooks and used the computer offered there.I studied there for couple of hours by my own and worked with my other group mates for another hours.I think the work done efficiency and the atmosphere is really great.
4. HU Jiani (Janey)
The first time I went to learning commons because the discussion of our group,and we decided to discuss in learning commons from the reference of our professor. It made my eyes bright at the first time because it is so beautiful and the facilities are so improved.
Later , I also went there for self-study,but it seems a little noisy for me. There are too many people discussing in the public space. For me , I prefer to discuss in the discussion-room.
I also think the helpers are not enough,because when I have problem with the printer, the helpers were all very busy dealing with other problems.
E.suggestion-- HU Jiani (Janey)
1. Make more quiet areas and make rules for quiet areas.
Almost all of our group members think it is too noisy in learning commons and still not quiet enough in. It is true the idea is great for sharing and discussing,but still many students want to find somewhere quiet for study in learning commons.
2. Improve the advisory service in learning commons.
Add more helpers ,maybe can recruit some volunteers from students. And improve the service in internet and technology.
3.To promote its advantages and encourage students to take full advantages of it。
It will be better to develop online tutorials and guides that allow students and faculty to learn when they want to and at their own pace. Embrace students’ do-it-yourself/Web 2.0 spirit. If give students the right tools, they may surprise you with their independence and creativity. Provide a way for students to collaborate with IT facilitors and even develop new online guides for enhancement.
Learning Commons provides students with a variety of academic support and collaborative learning environment, which allows students at all academic levels to use available resources, use technology effectively, develop study strategies and exchange ideas with classmates.
Apart from the present utilisations of Learning Commons in HKU, the followings are the potential use for Learning Commons, more focused on teaching.
1. Testing Centre
HKU has many institution, when they start a research, they may need to collect feedbacks from a large number of personnels and students, etc. Learning Commons attracts many people, so the people could help different research centres to do relevant surveys. Since Learning Commons is a totally open area, the testing centre could be installed near the entrance of Learning Commons on each floor.
2. Business and Computer Technology Coaching Centre
Computer plays a key role in education in HKU, at least in students’ finishing assignments. For some students who are not familiar with computer skills (e.g. Excel editing, Photoshop designing), it is not possible for them to google out every skills they need to acquire. According to this case, the Learning Commons could set a weekly seminar on Business and Computer Technology Coaching, which will be quite helpful for students.
3. Workshops
Learning Commons serves as an innovative learning resource which provides professional academic assistance that promotes retention and success by challenging and empowering students to maximise their academic potentials. For “academic assistance”, Learning Commons could hold academic workshops for students, which is suggested as weekly activity. For example Writing and Reading tutorials.
Another kind of workshop is for mentoring. Many universities begin their mentor programmes, as a collaborative learning space designed for students, Learning Commons could have several discussion rooms for mentoring, which needs to be in the morning time, separating from students’ preferred afternoon discussion time.
