Media Center Redesign. |
We all know that there are some resources and skills that are eternal. Finding out which ones should stay and which ones should go... is the tough part (albeit important and fun). Schools that find the right answer will remain relevant.”
~ R&D Your School: How to Start, Grow, and Sustain Your School's Innovation Engine by Dr. Shabbi Luthra
Media Center Redesign
As our committee reconvenes, we're excited to build off the work we completed in our past workshops and move from brainstorming to action steps. Thus far in our process we have made progress with the following challenges:
- Established a shared understanding of the role of the media center in supporting learning at Nipmuc.
- Examined the physical space to identify possibilities for redesigning the use of resources.
- Brainstormed actions to update the role of the library media center.
- Explored resources to help us see how other school communities have reimagined library media centers or learning commons.
- Studied authenticity and considered how the media center can support authentic learning.
- Reviewed a collection of high-engagement learning activities at Nipmuc to consider how the library media center can best support them.
The Media Center: Where our vision for learning comes to life!
Over the course of the year, Nipmuc has focused on student engagement and authenticity as characteristics of powerful moments of learning. Our team has explored the nine characteristics of authentic learning and identified learning highlights from each department. In today's workshop, we will take a look at how engagement and authenticity can be supported by the media center.
In our first activity, we will review the engaging learning cards that highlight engaging learning experiences from each department. Here are the instructions:
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As you work, review the image above that highlights our work from the last workshop when we identified how the media center supports teaching and learning.
Vision Verbs: Creating a Vision Statement
One of our committee's goals is to establish a vision that will guide the future of this critical resource. In creating this formal statement, we want to capture the actions that take place each day to support teaching, learning, and student life.
Complete the following statement: "The media center is a space where learners..." Write your answers on the sticky notes provided at your tables. We will then work together to sort and streamline the answers as we build an actionable vision.
Workshop Update: Check out the image below to see how our media center team members answered the prompt.
Complete the following statement: "The media center is a space where learners..." Write your answers on the sticky notes provided at your tables. We will then work together to sort and streamline the answers as we build an actionable vision.
Workshop Update: Check out the image below to see how our media center team members answered the prompt.
Prioritizing Next Steps: Starburst Voting!
In a short time, we've been able to brainstorm a wide range of action steps that can help us to align the library media center with our beliefs about learning and strategic plan. We have SO MANY great ideas... the challenge we face now is to decide which action steps should be our top priority as we make a plan for short-term and long-term goals.
To help us with this work, we're going to engage in a round of "Starburst Voting." The instructions are simple!
To help us with this work, we're going to engage in a round of "Starburst Voting." The instructions are simple!
- You'll notice a table set up with plastic jars. With each jar, you'll find an idea that we brainstormed during our first Media Center Redesign Committee Workshop.
- Each person will receive the same number of Starburst candies. As you review the action steps that we brainstormed, you have the chance to vote for the ideas that you think should be our committee's top priority by placing your Starbursts in the appropriate jar.
- You can distribute your "Starburst votes" any way you choose.
- The action steps with the most Starbursts will become the focus of our next steps.
Check out the top 4 action steps from the voting activity below.
37 votes: Conduct a review of the library media circulation, identifying what resources students are accessing and then purchase updated YA titles, adult-appropriate new release, and reference collection to improve the print collection.
29 votes: Declutter/Repurpose the tech offices and the storage closet to support learning activities (ie recording students, computer lab, green screen room, etc.) 29 votes: Create a library of things that allows students to check out instruments, STEM equipment, tools, devices, etc. for student use. 28 votes: Update the decor in the library media center to make it more welcoming including displaying student work and student artwork. |