Active Learning Spaces

In the book Get Active: Reimagining Learning Spaces for Student Success, the authors identify six types of active learning spaces that are essential for creating an engaging learning environment for students. While this research (and this book) are not specifically focused on school libraries, we are the ideal place in our schools to encompass all six types of learning spaces in one location. We are the learning hubs of our schools after all. :) You might find that many of these spaces will overlap in your library, or that their purpose might shift depending on the day. That’s totally normal considering how flexible our spaces have to be. Aim for having all six areas available as much as possible.

Small group areas

In your library, make sure that you have areas available where small groups of students can meet, talk and brainstorm. For some schools, this might be a row of diner booths on one wall. For another it might be whiteboard tables set up for small group brainstorming sessions. Other schools might have teaming tables with a monitor where students can share their device screens. It’s all about what works best for your space and your students. If possible, try to make it possible for small groups to have a bit of privacy, so that they don’t feel like their conversations are being overheard by the entire library.

Large group areas

By default, most school libraries already have a large group area. This will usually be the learning space where you hold classes. Advocate for flexible furnishings in this area if you are still stuck with the heavy traditional library tables. Having furniture that can be reconfigured in your large group area will make it easier to transition the space for different styles of teaching and learning. Make sure that you have an easy-to-use presentation setup too–ideally this space should always have a projector, laptop and screen setup and ready to go. If you have the space, have multiple large group areas so that you can accommodate multiple classes and learning styles.

Community Area

Often, the community area will be one and the same with the large group area. Some libraries might be lucky enough to have an audiotorium or multipurpose room attached. If you don’t, more than likely your large group area will also be where you host special events like author visits, bookfairs, parent meetings, etc. This is why flexible furniture is crucial for making your learning space truly active.

Technology rich area

Your library should have a space where students can utilize technology. Many of us have computer labs or computer stations in our libraries already, but try to think beyond just the basic computer lab. Could you include tablets that students can check out to use? Could you purchase a high-powered computer setup for photoediting? Could you create a small music studio in an old storage room where students could record podcasts, music and spoken word poetry? With more and more of our students already equipped with their own devices, we need to rethink how we can provide technology experiences that they don’t already have access to.

Quiet, solitary areas

Once upon a time, all of our libraries were pristinely quiet, intended solely for students to come in and read a book quietly. However, that paradigm has shifted, and many of our libraries are quite loud now. We still need to find a way to serve those students who just want to find a place to lose themselves in a book. If you have the space, try to designate a quiet room or quiet zone in your library, where students will know to keep the volume down. Look into creating “cave” spaces by rearranging furniture or providing screens or dividers to help students feel a little more solitary. My library has a very open layout, so we decided to rearrange our floor shelving units to create mini-caves in our fiction section. It’s not perfectly quiet, but it does provide a good solitary space for our students who need it.

Makerspaces

Makerspaces come in all shapes and sizes, from a bin of LEGOs on a table in the corner to a full-blown fab lab with 3D printers and laser cutters. How exactly it comes together in your space depends on you and your students and what works best. Try to find a way to give students access to hands-on materials where they can explore new ideas and have creative play experiences. This might be a LEGO wall, a whiteboard wall, an arts & crafts supply cart. Whatever it is, make sure you have a place for creativity in your library.

How do the six active learning spaces manifest themselves in your library?  Is there a space that’s missing that you need to work on?

Author: Diana Rendina

Diana Rendina, MLIS, is the media specialist at Tampa Preparatory, an independent 6-12 school. She was previously the media specialist at Stewart Middle Magnet School for seven years, where she founded their library makerspace. She is the creator of the blog RenovatedLearning.com & is also a monthly contributor to AASL Knowledge Quest. Diana is the winner of the 2016 ISTE Outstanding Young Educator Award, the 2015 ISTE Librarians Network Award, the 2015 AASL Frances Henne Award & the 2015 SLJ Build Something Bold Award. She is an international speaker on the Maker Movement and learning space design and has presented at conferences including AASL, FETC & ISTE. Diana co-authored Challenge-Based Learning in the School Library Makerspace and is the author of Reimagining Library Spaces: Transform Your Space on Any Budget.

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Categories: Blog Topics, Makerspaces/Learning Commons

Tags: learning commons, learning space design, learning spaces, library, makerspace