By Pippa Davies
Designing a New Learning Commons
Abstract
A teacher-librarian describes the key elements and vision for developing a physical learning commons in a school that to date has been a virtual campus in British Columbia. The school serves K-12 students in BC & worldwide, many with diverse learning needs. The author shares the planning that is underway to create a hybrid SLLC.
Pippa Davies: My 37-year experience encompasses working as a director, administrator, library specialist and teacher librarian, in many fields; medical, legal, public, reference and education. My goal is to constantly challenge myself to learn new technology, and educational innovations for my school and students, to encourage learning which is vibrant and relevant to their 21st-century needs. For the last 18 years, I have loved working as the Director of Heritage Christian Online School learning commons. As a change agent in the learning commons environment, I enjoy collaboration, technology integration, literacy projects and dynamic inquiry-based learning, whilst creating a voice for all of our students and staff. I am currently living in Nanaimo and happily married to John with 3 adult children and two grandchildren. I love reading to my grandkids and seeing them become active learners!