By Patricia Baker
The Benefits of a Participatory Learning Environment in the School Learning Commons
Abstract
This paper documents the transformation journey of an elementary school library in Ottawa Catholic School Board. With a focus on developing participatory learning, library technician Patricia Baker plans and implements change to create collaborative physical environments as well as major changes to establish a more open commons where students and teachers could utilize facilities and resources as needed when they needed them. Baker also discusses how a flexible schedule and self-checkout helped free up time to pursue building participatory maker activities.
Patricia Baker is a consultant and library technician with the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Her new book Creating a Learning Commons for the 21st Century with Design Thinking has been recently published. Patricia works with other schools to help transform their space and make purposeful makerspaces to introduce design thinking and teamwork skills.