http://blogs.missouristate.edu/learningcommons Building for the Future Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:53:58 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The Design and Construction Department has come through with some wonderfully rendered designs of the Bear CLAW.  This design was approved this morning, and while the main counter and glass partition will probably take a little longer to be installed, everything could be ready by September 1. Check out some of ... http://blogs.missouristate.edu/learningcommons/2009/06/15/the-bear-claw-in-3d/ This is a long post, but in the past few weeks a lot of work has been done on the Learning Commons and the Bear CLAW.  Given how soon the summer will be over, this is excellent news! Dr. Darabi has given the first Learning Commons / CLAW presentation at SOAR ... http://blogs.missouristate.edu/learningcommons/2009/06/08/soar-furniture-deadlines-tutortrac-publicity-and-tutors/ As of Monday, June 1, the Writing Center is in the Library!  There's not much in the way of furniture for it, and it won't start serving students until the 10th, but the move has been made. This means that the first part of the Bear CLAW is in place.  As ... http://blogs.missouristate.edu/learningcommons/2009/06/03/the-writing-center-opens-up-in-the-library/ To get the word out about the CLAW, we need to start considering how we can let students know about the services offered.  This goes for both incoming students (who should be the easiest to reach) through commuting graduate assistants.  Below are the various means we've considered: Publications/Handouts/Media · Bookmarks to hand ... http://blogs.missouristate.edu/learningcommons/2009/05/26/marketing-the-bear-claw-for-fall/ Within the Student Advisory Committee, there has been a strong contingent of people focused on branding the Learning Commons with a name and visual identity that will be recognizable and interesting to students while still emphasizing the Commons' purpose as a centralized place for services. Of the nearly two dozen ... http://blogs.missouristate.edu/learningcommons/2009/05/21/naming-the-learning-commons-and-creating-a-logo/ Herman Miller, a leading provider of office furniture in the United States, gave a presentation on what was possible in regards to furniture, lighting, and color in a learning commons.  Some of their more interesting ideas involved creating adaptable spaces to suit individuals' ideal study environment.  This included moveable "sails" ... http://blogs.missouristate.edu/learningcommons/2009/05/20/herman-miller-visits-for-talks-on-furniture/ Another contingent of people on the various Learning Common's committees had an opportunity to visit MU's Learning Commons.  Again, there's doesn't have the services integrated yet, but they're planning to incorporate those elements in the near future. MU's Learning Commons has 135 computers.  The orientation of the computers below may ... http://blogs.missouristate.edu/learningcommons/2009/05/19/mus-learning-commons/ Some of the committee members were fortunate enough to go to UMKC where they have built a Learning Commons of their own, although they call it an Information Commons. The primary difference between theirs and the one we're planning (aside from size) is that they are just now starting ... http://blogs.missouristate.edu/learningcommons/2009/05/14/a-field-trip-to-umkc/ The Student Advisory Subcommittee has done some preliminary outlining of the duties of the students who would be employed in the Learning Commons.  Here's what they have outlined: Mission: To work with the Learning Commons* partners to create outstanding learning spaces, services and resources. Duties •    Assist with capturing, evaluating and interpreting the feedback, ... http://blogs.missouristate.edu/learningcommons/2009/03/30/student-advisory-committees-job-description/ Services to be integrated: Writing Center Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning Tutoring Services Computer lab Assistive Technology Multimedia Supplemental Support Disability Support TRIO Counseling and Testing Library Reference Technology training/assistance Not all these services may be physically housed at the Commons, but could be integrated virtually. Student Union needs to be consulted about their successful remodeling project. Issues that need to be addressed: Computer ... http://blogs.missouristate.edu/learningcommons/2009/03/30/minutes-from-the-service-integration-subcommittee-31209/