Redesigning Services for the Net-Gen and Beyond: a Holistic Review of Pedagogy, Resource, and Learning Space

 

     In a 2008 article J. Beard and P. Dale, wrote about the journey of the Sir Michael Cobham Library of Bournemouth University. The library was constructed to reflect "the pedagogies of learning in a hybrid environment." Beyond reading lists and reading strategies, librarians worked together with the rest of the academic community in order to come up with a good library design that  optimizes the students' learning experience through "individual reflective learning" as well as collaborative learning. Physical space was designed to maximize social learning spaces in different informal clusters within the library. The physical and virtual environments designed for students to to acquire and develop academic literacy skills using the library's physical and electronic resources.

Three Points

     1. Physical design matters.
     2. Virtual design matters.
     3. Students matters.

     Physical design matters. Changing pedagogies of learning needs to be addressed by the design of the library's physical space. Learning in groups can be enhanced by incorporating discussion rooms, optimizing informal spaces, and creating areas where noise is an accepted part of learning. There has to be designated spaces within or in the proximity of the library which has to adapt to this learning style.

     Virtual design matters. The resources in the library straddles two kinds--the physical and the virtual. It stands to reason that library is in a position to provide access to both kinds of resources. Designing virtual spaces and allowing ease of access to electronic resources are of equal importance with designing physical spaces and access to printed resources. Thus, the acquisition of electronic databases and other electronic resources, and the creation of well-designed blogs, wikis, podcasts, and websites contributes to how students are most able to develop skills in academic literacy.

     Students matters. The Net-Gen students is characterized by their familiarity with the electronic/virtual world. In order to cater to this set of library clientele, there is a need of "aligning pedagogy with technology, resource and space." The library, then, needs to recognize the needs of these learners and to adopt certain technologies that will foster learning in the library.

Implication

     Nowadays, to get the word out does not only mean to  post stuff on physical bulletin boards but to to also post the same on virtual bulletin boards and other virtual spaces. The library can optimize the use of Web 2.0 technologies and advocate/push for a well-designed physical space that recognizes the need for collaborative learning. The library can be a center for social learning by creating learning spaces for collaborative learning and individual reflective learning.
     While to some extent this is happening in our libraries, it has been more the exemption rather than the norm. Librarians, though, have to work with the academic community for this to become a reality in our setting today...even if it means trying to learn new skills or re-arranging the furniture or lobbying for a budget for electronic resources and e-infrastructure.

Reference

Beard, J., & Dale, P. (2008). Redesigning services for the Net-Gen and beyond: a holistic review of
     pedagogy, resource, and learning space. New Review of Academic Librarianship, 14, 99-114.
     doi: 10.1080/13614530802518941

p.s.

The Sir Michael Cobham Library of Bournemouth University, an awardee of the prestigious Library Design Award in December 2007, has been continually developing its learning spaces. Their website gives an update on how the library has developed since then.

We've learned how libraries can be social learning centers. To know more on the subject, read up Learning Spaces (2006). This is "e-book represent[ing] an ongoing exploration as we bring together space, technology, and pedagogy to ensure learner success," Edited by Diana G. Oblinger,  the book is available in individual chapters here or can be viewed as an entire book in PDF here. 

The Library Learning Terrace  of Drexel's Hagerty Library sounds like a good idea, does it not?