Schenectady LEARNING COMMONS

“Sand Dollar” Walls

“Great Green” Accents

Divine White Walls

Introducing… Schenectady High School’s 20th Century Library.

PHASE 1, Schenectady Learning Commons

(Additions in orange: Stage, Community Board and Chalk Wall)

It Started in Our "Right Minds":

In an attempt to encourage Fine Arts Students’ creativity and aesthetic drive in a world that can sometimes shun such important qualities, we studied Daniel Pink’s A Whole New Mind. While reading this book (and participating in many related activities) we used the space of the library for discussion as a reference point for each of the SENSES. We then decided to execute our studies for the betterment of our school and, consequently, our community—This Schenectady Learning Commons Proposal is the result.

Want more? http://litemind.com/mindmaps/whole-new-mind/

FEEDBACK on our IDEAS (by DESIGNERS!)

We had an in-school field trip with two insightful designers representing Cannon Design. This is a company dedicated to restructuring education from the ENVIRONMENT to the learners.  (They see the educator as the first teacher, the students as the second and use of space as the third teacher. Their book, The 3rd Teacher, explains the significance of this focus—especially in 21st Century world beyond the classroom.

These designers suggested painting the walls calm colors, investing in comfortable chairs, removing study partitions, consolidating books (too much unused space), removing desktops, and taking advantage of our unusually spectacular circular space. 

Inspiration via SKYPE and Chelmsford, MA

Don’t worry, we checked. This works! We had the opportunity to “meet” with Valerie Diggs via Skype. She gave us a live, virtual tour of her space. When we asked what she did differently, she admitted that she wishes they had eliminated the computer desktop center. Laptops/portable devices are more realistic in our immediate future.  She boasted a group work room, comfortable chairs for collaboration, community involvement invested in donation to a Commons Cafe, and much more.

Our goal is to create an engaging, welcoming space where students can work both individually and collaboratively—allowing for expression and appropriate relaxation. This will play a role in encouraging school climate to develop a more aesthetically vibrant, community-focused atmosphere.

Schenectady Learning Commons will promote collaborative learning between classes and teachers which will, in turn, improve the school climate as well as academic engagement.  

The Learning Commons will also serve as a place for free expression, creation and recreation as learning.

The final purpose of the Learning Commons is to connect the school to the community. This will become the meeting place for any community members coming into the building, it will be a showcase of talents on stage, projects in process as well as a impetus for inspiration and involvement.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Short term goals for the Central Learning Commons include putting in a

A) Community Board that will connect the school to the community 

B) Performance space for presentations, performances and lectures 

C) Opening the Courtyard as a Classroom for outdoor learning

D) Adding a Cafe that will promote social interaction among students

E) Creating an open, welcoming space—promoting and supporting collaborative work as well as 21st Century Learning.

***TEACHER LIBRARIANS and ADMINISTRATORS WILL SET AND EXECUTE THE TIMES THESE AREAS WILL BE USED AS COLLABORATIVE SPACES AND CLASS SPACES. ALL OF THESE AREAS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO SIGN OUT BY CLASSES ONLY WITH THEIR APPROVAL***

VISION: This would be a place for activities and announcements within the school and Schenectady as a whole to be advertised. Information on school activities, after school programs, and news about the district and its students as well as its teachers could be posted here to help observers gain pride in their community. Student (and former student) accomplishments being recognized here would be a vital part of instilling student confidence. Community activities and collaboration could also flourish here.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the community board is to inform the school of what is going on in our community. We live in an eclectic city with many opportunities that most don’t know about so this would be an area for students and faculty to see whats going on—from the Green Market downtown to school club meetings. It would create a sense of community and open communication in a place where that is severely lacking. (Community events will be posted by staff and students alike.)

The Learning Commons is a functional place, we are just trying to introduce the element of design.The community board will be a place that will essentially incorporate play within the direct and extended community. Symphony will be achieved through the uniting of ideas and events. As a whole, everyone will have access to the things happening around us that we had previously been blind to.

This will create empathy by allowing messages and community events to freely flow to the general population. This will  involve the unification of ideas and feelings of students and teacher together. Through this we will have a better understanding and connect to the people we see each day.

Phase 1: We would like to put in a CORK BOARD to start out the community board concept. We would like to put this on the side of the Smartboard near the exit to the Courtyard. If cork board cannot be attached, we would like to implement the same idea with taped bulletins until we reach Phase 2. COST: $10 per 4 = $40

The COMMUNITY CHALK WALL could be completed in phase one. Since most of the walls in the library are large brick, we had few to choose from but we found a suitable area. To the left of where the smart board is on  the wall with the maps, it is a smooth surface suitable for chalk board paint. Also, that is used as a group learning space and the chalk board wall would would further emphasize that fact by increasing the communal learning, allowing group problem solving and all around creativity. It would be one small, easy, and not to mention cheap, step to take to get us closer to 21st century learning styles. COST: Donated by Class of 2011

Phases 2-3: All of the bookshelves along the wall to the left of the exit doors would be consolidated to make room for the large community board we are envisioning. All of those bookshelves are less then half full and are just taking up space we could be utilizing. The cork community board could then take up most (if not all) of the wall. COST: $13 per 4’ roll=$75

VISION:The vision of this performance space is to create an open stage available for open-mic nights, cabaret performances, lectures and seminars, as well as for presenting class projects in a more formal setting.

PURPOSE: By creating a space where students and teachers are allowed to use for both creative and learning purposes, this opens the possibilities for sharing and distributing information as well as art forms. Not only does this unite the school, but if these performances were to open to the public, this would bring the community together for a good cause. In addition, to involve younger students in the district, middle school as well as elementary students can use this space for simple productions to introduce them to their future high school early, creating a positive vibe for the high school at a young age.

·         Design -  An aesthetically pleasing performance space will enhance the overall view of the learning commons as well as make it a pleasant place to be.

·         Story - This stage is a great place for story telling and the sharing of experiences.

·         Symphony - By creating an open space that everyone can use, the performance space will feel like a place where we can come together to create art and beauty.

·         Empathy - By sharing stories and opinions, our empathetic abilities will increase and we will understand each other’s lives and manners in a more collaborative manner.

·         Play - By using this stage for play with an audience, the user will feel more involved and willing to participate because they will have a purpose to be performing.

·         Meaning - The presenter will feel more involved in the community because their presentations will be given a deeper meaning and will feel what they’re saying is of a bigger value.

 Phase 1: Simply a stage. This has been offered to us by the Theater Department in the form of a platform. The elevated floor will allow the speaker(s) to gain much power and drastically change the dynamic of presenting. This will be placed to the right of the exit to the Courtyard.

When a performance is not in session, this is not a waste of space! Chairs will be placed in a circle, facing the stage, or in groups for collaboration. Flexible furniture arrangements are ideal in all 21st Century Learning Environments. (Learned that from 3rd Teacher!) COST: $0!

Phase 2: We’d like to format Listening Lunches for next year, Music Mornings, and much more. COST: $0! Move the stage under the windows where the Reference Books are currently residing. (We’d like to consolidate and cross-reference with what is available digitally. Perhaps store those upon request for check-out or WOULD MOST LIKE TO HAVE HIGHER SHELVES AS IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO FREE UP FLOOR SPACE.)

Phase 3: Speakers and Lights! We’d like to make this space for morning performances, listening lunches, afternoon reviews—and community involvement! COST: $500-$1000 (depending on quality—possible donations?)

VISION: A cart with coffee, donated snacks from the community, and volunteers tucked in the corner of the Learning Commons. (Possibly to the right of the entrance)

 
PURPOSE: The cafe will bring students together, and it will be a place for students to interact with one another. Also having the cafe located in the Learning Commons, will give students a chance to look around the library and discover books and opportunities they may not have found otherwise. Also the cafe will raise extra money for the school and provide an area for students to interact with one another, educators and feel aesthetically alive in a learning environment. This will serve as an assignment for a business class or special education class.

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS? Coffee may spill in library/in class and cause a mess. Fear of garbage left behind.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS: They will be supervised and asked to leave. the environment will demand appropriate behavior. Spill-proof cups and carpet tiles. Only at designated times. Assign duties to students (Special Education Duty? Business Class? Office Aide?)

Phase 1:

1. Check with the regulations set into place by contract with food supplier.

Phase 2:

1. Coffee Supplies: Coffeemakers, Spill-Proof Mugs, Air Pots, Coffee, Filters, etc.

2. Community Donations: Pastries, etc. (Chelmsford, MA inspired)  

COST: $200-$300 startup (will earn back from revenue!)

Phase 3:    

1. Carpet Tiles

2. Booths, Tables, Counter

3. Further community involvement

VISION: The courtyard is a very lovely and usable space—if given the opportunity, time, and proper funding, we could take a large and dreary courtyard and make a beautiful learning environment and recreation area. We will fertilize, remove weeds and overgrown shrubs and landscape. We will also encourage the school population to experience nature as they collaborate and/or read. 

PURPOSE: All these things are important to the master plan of making the library a place for people to be proud of. Getting the time and funding to complete this project will be incredibly important not just to our class. It would be incredibly important for the whole school, and the whole community.

PHASE 1: We will start by weeding the dead bushes and such out of the courtyard. We will replace these with new shrubbery and flower life. This can be done with one day of hard work from all the students in an assigned class or Nature’s Classroom Club. Through various “Go Green” programs we will be able to get plants for free. (We are currently promised a donation from Wells’ Nursery!) Classes could “sign out” this space as they would a computer lab. Teachers would be responsible for supervision. COST: $0-$100 for fertilizer and plants

PHASE 2: We will be putting in paths, fixing the railing on the stairs, and placing a stage outside for outdoor performances. This is a great project for a Design Tech Class or other Technology Class. COST: Materials determined by Technology Department.

PHASE 3: Build a gazebo and additional seating. Ideally, this could be a place to meet for lunch. This would require additional supervision (i.e. lunch duty assignment, but it would be a great academic alternative area to eat and relax. COST: Materials determined by Technology Department.

VISION:  The layout and appearance of the library has a detrimental impact on the functionality of the Learning Commons. There should be distinct sections for group work, performance space, a quiet area, computers/laptops,  and a reading area. The natural color scheme we have chosen reflect the outdoor Community Courtyard and create a serene environment. We will remove half of the study carrels and a few round table to open space. We will use the chairs as moveable furniture (describe in detail below).

 PURPOSE: The general layout of the space is our Learning Commons “3rd Teacher”. It will welcome the community in, exude respectful and productive behavior, yet support active learning and collaboration. The removal of tables and eventual acquisition of new furniture will encourage groupwork, technology in the hands of the learners, and adequate aesthetic enjoyment and comfort for learning.

Phase 1:

1. Remove 4 of the Study Carrels and place them off to the side near the computers for individual/quiet work.

2. Relocate Round Tables (eliminating 4) into the designated section for collaborative work and study. (With access to laptop computers)

3. Use the chairs from the above to create a class circle. These chairs will be place in a circle in front of the Performance Stage for book talks, class discussions, and creative readings. They will be moved/relocated as needed. (i.e. audience facing the stage, two mini-circles, etc.)

ALSO a class set of Bean Bag Chairs will be placed for reading/lounging near the windows. (Donated by Class of 2011)

4. Earthtone Touches: We have received a donation of high-quality paint from Sherwin Williams. We will paint the library after school or on a Saturday. (With approval!)

5. Collaborate with librarians to weed out unused books, consolidate reference books and collapse empty space on the walls for better use of the space. It would be ideal to get a couple of HIGHER shelves to create more floor space. (This will allow us to open up the Performance Space toward the Classroom.)

Phase 2:

1. Create a second Classroom (formally out-dated computer lab)

2. Apply and hope for LAPTOP GRANTS (desktops are of a different century)

3. This space can be used for quiet study with a lively Learning Commons or as a Group Meeting Room while the rest of the space is designated as QUIET when not in use as a classroom.

Phase 3:

1. Inviting Reading Chairs ($40-80 ea.)

2. Carpet Tiles ($.50 sq/ft)