Today, I witnessed a wonderful way of using the Learning Commons.

It was being used for a poster presentation session for third and fourth-year students in a seminar led by Professor Tsutomu Okada, a researcher in adolescent psychology. Since the capacity was listed as 50 people, I wondered what it would look like, but…

This is great!! This way of using the space is excellent. I thought it might be cramped with 50 people, but it wasn’t at all. Students were laying out printed PowerPoint slides on the tables and engaging in lively discussions. Usually, posters are hung on walls, but isn’t it great to place them on tables? Furthermore, it’s brilliant that they separated the slides. You can move the slides around by hand while talking. It’s also convenient that it’s easier to write things down, like notes, on the table.
Wow, I am truly glad we created this space. I was moved!! Thank you, Professor Okada!! I hope other professors will use it as well. This is exactly one of the ideal ways I envisioned it being used.
Seeing this, I thought it would be better to provide whiteboards at each table or sheets that can be written on with pens on the desks. It would probably be great to combine this kind of learning with pens and paper on the tables. It would surely liven up the discussions. I want to try it too!! Also, having terminals where students can search for literature and papers related to their research, and keeping the literature itself there—isn’t that exactly what a library can do? I truly felt the Learning Commons as a library serving as a learning space.
I think I’ve gained some hints regarding the environmental design for collaborative learning in the Learning Commons. I want to make it even better for the second semester. All sorts of ideas are popping into my head.
I will consult with the library staff about purchasing easel pads. This is definitely a good idea. I’m going to buy some.