After posting the first itiration, I made edits to the document based on my colleagues’ advice. I tinkered with my logo, shifted some spacing, then added in the SAMR & TPACK models, and ISTE Standards for Educators.
What you see now is the edited version, intended to be printed on legal paper: 8.5″x14″.
I love designing and thinking about branding. I went to business school for my first degree and graduated into the world of finance, communications, and marketing. For a brief time, I even ran my own small business as a Digital Media and Marketing Consultant; it was my job to build the social media presence of local small businesses through targeted ads and personal branding. While I eventually moved on because I didn’t like the hustle, I did love the creative elements of my role.
I got to pour those same creative elements into designing logos for an imaginary library. Even though I’ve been focussing on a Mobile Makerspace, I decided not to try to build a logo for it because I would create a “Name This Space” challenge for students and build a logo based on their ideas. Instead, I made three for the full library, that would be used on the website, newsletters, and all LLC communications. I would love to hear your critical feedback:
What impression do each of these leave with you? What kind of library or space do these make you think of? What is missing or not hitting the mark for you here?
Logo #1: Re-Imagine Learning
The words Re:Imagine Learning fill the space. The upper loop of the R has a yellow drop shadow and the leg, or swoosh, of the R is a rocket shooting off to the right between the words Re:Imagine & Learning.
Logo #2: Library Learning Commons
The words Library Learning Commons are stacked on top of each other along the left-hand margin. Above “Library” is a minimalist open book, pages flipping, with magic dust sparkling out.
Logo #3: The (Library Learning) Commons
A group of tech-inspired lines and symbols hover above the words “the library learning commons”, where “The Commons” are black, bold, and all-caps, while “library learning” is a lighter handwritten font.
Created using Canva for Educators, based on “Get STEAM Rolling” by Amy Koester
Reference:
KOESTER, A. (2014). Get STEAM Rolling! Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, 12(3), 22–25. https://doi-org.proxy.queensu.ca/10.5860/cal.12n3.22
What does it mean to teach and learn in the 21st century, preparing for a world that we can only begin to imagine?
“The New Basics” from People For Education – teaching skills for a future we can only begin to imagine.
Facilitating learning opportunities for 21st-century life skills is not something that classroom teachers can do alone. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes an entire school community to educate one. That’s where teacher librarians (TLs) come in.
Transforming school libraries from the hallowed, hushed spaces of check-in-check-out to human-centred hubs of collaboration and creative exploration is perhaps the most exciting prospect in schools today. The research behind Library Learning Commons (LLCs) and their virtual counterparts (VLLCs) has absolutely exploded in the last 5 years, with strong evidence in support of the funding, paradigm shifts, and collaborative efforts needed to truly create inquiry-based, human-centred, technology-rich learning hubs (CSL 2020) (BCTLA 2017) (Pressley 2017) (FRL 2016).
Some considerations along the way:
The Role of the Teacher Librarian:
The 21st century TL is connected: to other professionals, to the district and province, to other schools, and to the world. Relationship-building and professional development are at the core of the role of a TL. A school expert in technology integration, inquiry-methods, design-thinking, and resources to support curriculum, the TL is a key instructional specialist and bridges all stakeholders in their learning community (BCTLA 2017) (FRL 2016).
Task Number 1: Define the role of the TL and make this document visible to classroom teachers and school admin.
Task Number 2: Build relationships within the school community that support the Principal’s vision, classroom teachers’ learning goals, and students’ passions. Get volunteers on board, build the foundations for co-teaching, and create opportunities for collaboration in the LLC.
Task Number 3: Join focused PLNs that connect TLs across the district, province, and world. Centre the ISTE Standards for Educators in your professional development goals (ISTE 2021).
The Environment:
The 21st-century LLC is more than a book exchange, and the space must reflect that. Students and staff need to feel welcome and know that they can come anytime to rest, play, explore, chat, and ask for help.
The space should promote a love of literacy (in all its forms), collaborative learning, tech exploration, accessibility, and creative design. Since it is rare that a school library is the size of a gymnasium, it’s important to use modular thinking so that the physical aspects of the library can be shifted to accommodate the diversity of use-cases for the LLC.
Task Number 1: Build flexibility into the library schedule so that students and staff know they can drop-in at all times, or most times of the day.
Task Number 2: Weed the existing collection so that it is up-to-date, inclusive, reflective of the learning community, and focused on the future.
Task Number 3: Replace heavy tables and chairs with light-weight, movable ones. Ensure the space supports group work, reading for pleasure, using technology, community engagement, and also includes or is connected to a Makerspace.
21st Century life-skills include digital literacy and technological savvy. Tech skills, digital citizenship, and information literacy must be built into the LLC and must also be reflected in the VLLC.
Tech for the 21st century is mobile, integrated, and supports the 4C’s: Creativity, Collaboration, Communication and Critical Thinking (2021).
Task Number 1: Use TPACK and SAMR models to select the tech tools that will best support learning.
Task Number 2: Follow ADST Curricular goals to integrate tech into lesson plans and activities.
Design Thinking may just be the most important skill for 21st century learners. Human-centred, focused on problem-solving, and built to bring out the creative thinking skills that every human innately has.
Unlock imagination, learn through play, think with your hands, and strengthen a growth mindset for life.
Task Number 1: Collaborate with the school community to create a Makerspace within the school that is accessible to students, teachers, and all learning community stakeholders.
Task Number 2: Create learning opportunities that follow the Design Thinking Process and encourage a sense of comfort and normality in the experience of failing.
Task Number 3: Encourage play! Most of all, the LLC is meant to be a space for exploration, creativity, and hands-on learning opportunities.
Question: Where would you start? What is missing from this list?
I have based my library design off an existing space, though my transformation would require a significant re-design of the furniture and layout.
This is intended to be an Elementary School library, though I think it would work well at the Middle School level as well. I have used double-sided bookshelves, floor rugs and lighting to create separation between areas.
A teacher zone includes a smart screen for presentations, a resource centre, comfy seating, and a coffee/drinks area.
The makerspaces allow for multiple projects/groups working at once, with movable tables and chairs, ample shelving, a maker’s cart that can leave the library, and a computer/printing zone.
A kids’ zone offers storage bins, low tables and floor cushions, an artists’ easel, and lots of materials for play.
The work space is highly flexible and has a large projector screen at the end of it, for presentations, learning opportunities, workshops, and more.
Bookshelves line all interior walls, with cozy reading spots all around, inviting pleasure reading in the library.
A gaming console takes over the corner of the library, where students and staff are encouraged to stay and play!
Plants and individual work stations line the exterior wall, where floor-to-ceiling windows provide ample lighting for the entire library.
Created using RoomSketcher (free to download and use, $2.62CAD to render into a 3D photo).
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