Media Center Redesign. |
Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life.” ~ Sidney Sheldon
Media Center Redesign
Over the years, Nipmuc’s media center has served as a hub of life and learning for our school community. Since COVID and following the impact of budget reductions, the role of the library media center has changed. This spring, we are excited to work together with a committee of students and educators to establish a vision for the future of this critical resource.
Our committee’s role is to tap into our curiosity, knowledge, and creativity to design the future of the media center. Working collaboratively we will:
Our committee’s role is to tap into our curiosity, knowledge, and creativity to design the future of the media center. Working collaboratively we will:
- Use our beliefs about learning and definition of learning as a compass to guide our work.
- Explore the connection between the media center’s space, resources, and staffing with teaching & learning at Nipmuc.
- Ensure that the media center fulfills the requirements of the school accreditation process.
- Articulate a vision for how the media center can best support student, educator, and community needs.
- Identify short and long-term action steps that will allow us to bring our vision of the media center to life.
Lead Learner Workshops
Lead Learner Workshops are Nipmuc's reimagined leadership sessions in which students and educators work together to explore the future of our school. Lead Learner Workshops are attended by administrators and department chairs. In addition, they are open to any student and any teacher at our school. They encourage school-wide participation in the exploration of new ideas and the future of learning at our school. Since September 2017, these monthly workshops have provided a platform for everyone in the school - including students, staff, faculty, and administrators - to work together in leading Nipmuc.
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Introductions
As we begin our workshop, let’s take a minute to quickly introduce ourselves by sharing your name, grade/role, and what PoL competency describes you best. Throughout today’s and future workshops, you’ll have the chance to work closely with everyone on the committee. We look forward to working with all of you as our thought partners!
Media Center Redesign Team
Over the course of the next three workshops, our team will:
In order to accomplish our work, we will:
In today’s workshop, we’ll participate in three protocols - brainstorming, notice, and wonder - that will help us move forward in this important work!
- Establish a vision for how the media center supports teaching, learning, and student life.
- Create a plan for the design of the physical space of the media center.
- Identify the resources needed to bring the media center vision to life.
In order to accomplish our work, we will:
- Use our beliefs about learning, definition of learning, and strategic plan as a compass for decision-making.
- Collaborate and tap into the voices and ideas of all of our learners.
- Adopt the “what if?” mindset.
- Get actionable.
In today’s workshop, we’ll participate in three protocols - brainstorming, notice, and wonder - that will help us move forward in this important work!
Challenge #1: Understanding the Role of the Media Center
As we begin our work, our first task is to build a shared understanding of the role of the library media center. Working together, we’ll brainstorm the many ways that the media center enriches life and learning for our school and community. In just a moment, we’ll split our team into groups. With your group, make your way to the following four stations:
- Support of teaching and learning
- Providing materials and resources for learning and collaboration
- Supporting student life and student needs
- Meeting the needs of the community
Check out the responses of the group below.
Challenge #2: Taking a Closer Look
Our work on this committee requires that we look at the media center with a fresh perspective, looking to uncover possibilities that exist all around us. In this activity - “I Spy” - we’re asking you to work with your groups to do just that.
Working collaboratively, walk around the physical space of the media center. Just like in the game “I Spy”, make observations about the space. Frame your answers as “I spy…” or “I notice…” and "I wonder...". Track the things you notice and wonder on your clipboards and be ready to share out with the group.
Working collaboratively, walk around the physical space of the media center. Just like in the game “I Spy”, make observations about the space. Frame your answers as “I spy…” or “I notice…” and "I wonder...". Track the things you notice and wonder on your clipboards and be ready to share out with the group.
Challenge #3: What if?
Our last challenge of the day is to imagine the possibilities for the media center. For this work, we’ll play the “What if?” game. The rules are simple but the ideas that emerge are powerful.
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What's Next?
The next workshop for our group will take place on March 23 during a Lead Learner Workshop. During that session, our team will join department chairs, staff members, and students to focus on engagement. As members of our team, we'll be looking for your help in identifying the ways that the media center can best support active, engaging, and meaningful learning experiences at our school.
In addition to joining us on March 23, in the time between meetings, we encourage you to:
In addition to joining us on March 23, in the time between meetings, we encourage you to:
- Research modern library media centers and find something you're excited about. Bring your idea - whether a podcasting studio, green screen room, library of things or more - to the next workshop. This article might be helpful.
- Visit Miscoe Hill's Inspired Innovation Center. Contact Dr. Quinn - MURSD's Director of Tech Integration - to set up a visit.
- Explore a local library. There are many great options, however, Grafton Library recently re-opened following a $16 million renovation.
- Get ready for "lift off" by exploring the Cajon Valley Launchpad.
- Dig into the VW eLab and get inspired!