Yesterday, I concluded the symposium “The Future of Learning Support in University Libraries” at my former institution, Kanazawa University. I never imagined I would have the opportunity to speak in Kanazawa so soon. I was deeply moved and grateful to see the library staff, including Director Shibata, department heads, and section chiefs, in attendance and listening so intently to my talk. Professor Junichi Akita, who provided support for the operation of the learning commons in the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, also reached out via Facebook and attended. Thank you very much.

Someone who served as the head of the Information Promotion Office, with whom I worked closely when I was the executive committee chair at the FD/ICT Education Promotion Office, told me, “Things have been tough since you left!” While I felt sorry to hear that, I was also grateful. They added, “Please come back to Kanazawa again and teach us more.” Thank you.

In my lecture, I discussed the current state of library-based learning support both in Japan and abroad, framed by the “21st-century skills” and the future talent profiles advocated by MEXT. I categorized this support into three pillars: “informal learning,” “literacy education,” and “social constructivist views of learning,” and proposed various examples of what can be done moving forward. At the Kanazawa University Central Library’s Book Lounge, students’ activities are showcased in various ways, and autonomous learning unrelated to coursework is actively pursued. I feel there are few examples where such facilities are utilized this actively. When a new facility like a learning commons is built, students often flock to it initially to try various things (the novelty effect), but it can sometimes fall into disuse over time, so the real test begins after the facility is established. The learning commons at Kanazawa University’s Central Library is entering its fourth year. It seems to have reached a stable phase, so it might be a good time to visit (though I recommend visiting during the semester, as the entire campus becomes a ghost town before, during, and after long breaks).

Mr. Okabe, a section chief from Nagoya University, spoke about the learning support skills that library staff should acquire from the perspective of the aforementioned learning support. He explained the importance of Instructional Design, knowledge of the learning sciences, and literacy, while referencing the content of courses currently being offered. He also introduced the e-learning content being developed as part of the Information Librarian Training Project and discussed its future development. Ah, that’s right, next fiscal year is for content deployment. I am involved in that too, so I have to do my best! Finally, Mr. Murata, a section chief at Kanazawa University, spoke about the current situation at Kanazawa University and discussed how to move to the next stage from what has been done so far, such as the development of learning support related to formal learning. Oh, and the “Hon-wa Cafe” in the Central Library’s Book Lounge seems to be continuing next year. I heard it is profitable. I am truly happy about that!! Since the library manages the cafe area, it is a great strength that the library can host the events it wants to. I look forward to seeing what happens next.

During the Q&A session, Professor Horii from the Center for the Advancement of Higher Education at my former institution asked about “concrete plans to link learning support in the library with coursework,” and Director Shibata raised the topic of “how to guide students to learning support in the library.” We discussed involvement from the course design stage, understanding the library’s strengths, expanding activities at the grassroots level, and publishing and deploying practical examples. In Kanazawa’s case, the distance between faculty and library staff is small, which I think makes it easier to collaborate on creating courses.

This symposium was held as part of inter-university collaboration, and people from other universities also participated. I was surprised that three students who took the classes I taught while I was in Kanazawa attended. I was a faculty member who could only teach general education subjects. I wasn’t mentoring them in a seminar, and usually, once a course is finished, there is little opportunity to talk. Furthermore, I have already transferred to Kyushu University. Even so, for them to come and say things like, “What I learned in your class was significant,” or to still remember the content of my lectures… I am truly happy. I was moved. Even more impressive was that when the Q&A session started, the first to ask questions were the students from my classes. They were proactive, offering counterarguments to our ideas or proposing new plans. Having taken my “Learning Environment Design Project” course, they even made wonderful proposals. That’s great! Wonderful! I also introduced the Jigsaw Method, which Professor Masukawa from Shizuoka University is energetically working on, and Professor Akita expressed interest and said he would like to consider a workshop using the Jigsaw Method. I am grateful for that!

Hack things you can buy at a 100-yen shop! http://atnd.org/event/MakeMAKERS/0

Also, what made me happy at the subsequent information exchange meeting was that they are actively considering the realization of the “Proposal for a New International Exchange Room” within the library, which was suggested by students in the Learning Environment Design Project I conducted until last December. Since I had already transferred, I didn’t know about this, but the Director said that after seeing the students’ actual proposal, even if it’s unclear if a budget will be secured, he fully understands the importance of the learning spaces currently in demand and the identification of unused areas, and he wants to have this as a “weapon” for future development. I don’t know how much of it will be realized, but I am happy that the staff and even the Director have looked at it, understood it, and are moving it forward, and I truly feel glad that I conducted this course.

I have been thinking a bit about what I left behind at Kanazawa University, even though it has only been a little over two months since I came here. This is also a question of what I will exert my efforts on at Kyushu University, but hearing that what I have done is still taking root at Kanazawa University and among the students who took my classes makes me so happy I could cry. I am also very grateful that I still have opportunities to talk freely with Mr. Okabe from Nagoya University about things like the Information Librarian Training Project. Only three years, but a significant three years. It was a short period, but I am grateful that it is still alive. I wish courses like the Learning Environment Design Project could continue, but that might be difficult.

I want to do good work at Kyushu University as well.

Until the day I come again.

Also, here are the materials from the day (I have made some minor adjustments). Please feel free to take a look.

Also, these symposium materials are posted on the Kanazawa University Repository. There are my materials, as well as those from Mr. Okabe and Mr. Murata.

2013-03-27 “Library Enhancement Program” Symposium: “The Future of Learning Support in University Libraries”
http://dspace.lib.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/dspace/handle/2297/33907