The document summarizes UNK's transition from separate academic support services like the writing center and peer tutoring into a centralized Learning Commons. It describes the original vision for collaboration, challenges in the transition like delayed construction, and the eventual success of the Learning Commons which opened in 2011. Usage increased 30% following its development. The Learning Commons brings together the library, tutoring, writing center and other services to support students.

1. Learning the
Learning Commons:
How UNK Moved Out of the
Silos and into a Dance Hall
Keri Pearson, Dr. Ron Wirtz
University of Nebraska at Kearney

2. Vision
Transition
Reality
The Future
http://silverspeaks.com/blogs/2011/01/dancing-with-change-step-3/
Learning the Learning Commons

3. Silo-ed Existence (2009)
Writing Center housed in the
Library but with very little
collaboration beyond space
Peer Tutoring in a hallway of the
Student Affairs building and
typically regarded as a remedial
service
Learning the Learning Commons:
Vision

4. Library “Gate Count”
Learning the Learning Commons:
Vision

5. Learning the Learning Commons:
Vision
Library Study Space

6. Learning the Learning Commons:
Vision
Changing Leadership

7. Learning the Learning Commons:
Vision
Original Writing Center Space

8. Spring 2009 Program Review
Learning the Learning Commons:
Vision

9. Learning the Learning Commons:
Vision
Original Peer Tutoring Space

10. serendipity, n.
Pronunciation: /sɛrɛnˈdɪpɪtɪ/
Etymology:A word coined by Horace Walpole, who says (Let. to Mann, 28 Jan. 1754)
that he had formed it upon the title of the fairy-tale ‘The Three Princes of
Serendip’, the heroes of which ‘were always making discoveries, by accidents and
sagacity, of things they were not in quest of’.
The faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries by
accident.
From: Oxford English Dictionary (Online)
Learning the Learning Commons:
Vision

11. Learning the Learning Commons:
Vision

12. Ideas between Deans of the Library and Student Affairs moved
“up” to higher administration
The UNK Mission Statement was a developmental focal point.
III. Student Development Goal (Objective 1): Develop a comprehensive strategy that will guide
planning and activity outside the formal academic curriculum to enhance each student’s cognitive
and moral development, interpersonal skills, and prospects for satisfaction and success at UNK
and in life after graduation.
Articulate a framework of principles and common objectives, and establish collaborative mechanisms, enabling
units to cooperate across organizational boundaries to enhance student retention, graduation, and career
placement results.
Bridge Academic and Student Affairs programming to integrate living and learning experiences for students…
Learning the Learning Commons:
Vision

13. SPACE:
“… an environment that enhances social interaction and cross disciplinary
learning outside the classroom.”1
GOAL:
“The main goal of the Learning Commons is to provide, in a centralized location,
as many academic support services for students as possible.” 2
MECHANISM:
“The core activity of a learning commons would not be the manipulation and
mastery of information… but the collaborative learning by which students turn
information into knowledge and sometimes into wisdom.”3
1 http://dbilyeu.cocc.edu/21st+Century+Library/default.aspx
2 http://www.cla.ca/divisions/cacul/regenerations/2009/02/whats-common-about-learning-commons.html
3 http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1232&context=libraryscience&seiredir=1#search=
%22Learning%20Commons%20Nebraska%22
Learning the Learning Commons:
Vision

14. Library Resources
and Services
Technology
Resources
Student
Affairs
UNK
Learning
Commons
Learning the Learning Commons:
Transition

15. Learning Commons models vary but often include:
writing and math/statistics help
study rooms
desktop computers with a variety of software packages
reference/research help
study skills help
IT point-of-need assistance
assistive technology for students with disabilities
laptop computers for loan, printing
Learning the Learning Commons:
Vision

16. Vision
Transition
Reality
The Future
Learning the Learning Commons

17. The UNK Learning Commons (UNKLC) in 2010:
Peer Tutoring: peer assistance for general studies courses (especially
business, languages, math and science)
Writing Center: peer assistance at any stage of the writing process
Calvin T. Ryan (CTR) Library: book collections and electronic resources
for student research with ample study space and technology access
Learning the Learning Commons:
Transition

18. Learning the Learning Commons:
Transition

19. Peer Tutoring offices moved into the Writing Center
in Summer 2010
Plan: build the LC over the summer to open in Fall 2010
Transform the Writing Center space into the Learning
Commons Offices
“Challenges Arose”
Learning the Learning Commons:
Transition

20. Learning the Learning Commons:
Transition

21. Collaboration between programs and with the Library
was ongoing despite the temporary delay in
construction.
Hiring process for a Writing Center/Learning Commons
Assistant Director
Additional technology in the general Library space and
technology support
Project planning at Dean and higher administrative
levels
Learning the Learning Commons:
Transition

22. Vision
Transition
Reality
The Future
Learning the Learning Commons

23. Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality

24. Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality

25. The UNK Learning
Commons opened
with much fanfare
in its permanent
space in Fall 2011
Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality

26. Gate count for years
following the development
of the Learning Commons
increased 30%
Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality

27. Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality

28. Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality

29. Many “united front” efforts were
made to ensure the success of the
LC and, thereby, its student users.

30. Marketing pieces work to tie services
and the Library together.
Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality

31. Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality

32. Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality

33. Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality

34. “BlueTube” video for prospective students
http://bit.ly/17XP90d
“Louie the Loper Learns a Lot” for freshmen students
http://bit.ly/19Z7CHd
Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality

35. Fall 2011 “Game Night”

36. Fall 2012 “Freshman Orientation”

37. Fall 2012 “Lib Quiz”

38. Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality
Learning Commons Coordinating Council (LCCC or LC3)
2 partners from Student Affairs, 2 partners from the Library
Learning Commons Assistant Director for the Library
Compares to the Learning Commons Assistant Director position in
Student Affairs
Administrative Support

39. Calvin T. Ryan (CTR) Library
Peer Tutoring
Writing Center
Supplemental Instruction
Language Tables
Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality
Calvin T. Ryan (CTR) Library
Peer Tutoring
Writing Center
Additional services

40. Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality
Assessment:
Tracking referrals between LC services and Library services
“Assessment in Action: Academic Libraries and Student Services” with
ACRL
 NLA Poster Presentation June 26-July 1
 Fuels the development of “a variety of approaches to assessing library impact on
student learning, which will be documented and disseminated for use by the
wider academic library and higher education communities”
 http://www.ala.org/acrl/AiA
Programming:
Undergraduate Research Seminars
Additional collaboration

42. Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality
September: IRB
October: Literature Review (Library)
November: College Speaker
January: Writing & Citing (Writing Center)
February: College Speaker
March: Poster Presentations
April: College Speaker
2012-14 Undergraduate Research Seminar schedule

43. Vision
Transition
Reality
The Future
Learning the Learning Commons

44. Presentation technology integrated in
the UNKLC and Library
http://www.touchwindow.com/c/KTLC-40N.html
Learning the Learning Commons:
The Future

45. Improved understanding of student use
of services
Learning the Learning Commons:
The Future

46. Learning the Learning Commons:
The Future

47. Tutor training integrating information
literacy
Learning the Learning Commons:
The Future

48. Potentially, the
gradual
migration of
other student
services as
more Library
space is
available
Shaded area shows proposed expansion space
Learning the Learning Commons:
Reality

49. Learning the Learning Commons

50. Learning the Learning Commons
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cymLAd2M_io/TcPP3YRXKAI/AAAAAAAAADk/DC78eNJQ0BI/s1600/danceHall.jpg

51. Learning the
Learning Commons:
How UNK Moved Out of the
Silos and into a Dance Hall
www.unk.edu/lc
Keri Pearson, Dr. Ron Wirtz
University of Nebraska at Kearney