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Session 23
Title: Bridging the gap
between the physical Commons and the digital Commons: Current
research and practice
Session
Description:
Information Commons (ICs) and
Learning Commons (LCs) are spaces, most often found in libraries
that consciously integrate learning, technology and research
with staff resources. These spaces are designed to “organize
workspace and service delivery around the digital environment”
(Beagle, 1999, p. 82) and are intended to encourage student
control over learning and the social dimensions of knowledge
(Bennett, 2003, p. 83).
Although there is a clear relationship between technology and
learning in a Commons space, this relationship does not carry
over to the digital arena. In my recent exploratory study of
IC/LC websites at Canadian medical-doctoral institutions, I
found that most IC/LC websites were hard to find, static,
information-based, and did not encourage active use of digital
materials/resources. In addition, they provided minimal to no
links to Information Literacy materials or reference to digital
research and content creation tools (e.g. Ref Works, delicious,
Evernote).
This presentation will provide a context for the current digital
environment, detail the results from the current study and
outline ways that website administrators and IC/LC staff can
begin to make the link between the IC/LC space and the digital
arena, and encourage student engagement with digital content and
tools.
This is a 90 minute facilitated
discussion over two sessions, led by Ms Miriam Unruh, University
of Manitoba. Check back for further biographical information
about Miriam Unruh.
Presenter: Miriam Unruh,
University of Manitoba
Miriam Unruh is the coordinator of the Learning Assistance
Centre at the University of Manitoba.
She sits on the Learning
Commons committee at the University of Manitoba, and her
Master’s thesis examines the websites of Canadian
Medical-Doctoral University Learning Commons.
Her current interests include
emerging technology and its impact on student learning in a
university environment.
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