Today, I gave a lecture at the Kanazawa University Library for a training session held by the Ishikawa Prefecture University Library Association. I spoke about various case studies, examples from our university, and the development of library staff. Currently, I am interested in staff development for learning support services, so I often speak on that topic, and I hope to continue proposing valuable ideas in the future.

At the Kanazawa University Library, I was involved in various aspects such as spatial design and the consideration of service content, some of which were realized by incorporating the opinions of students. The channel for this was my course, “Learning Environment Design Project.” Since this was an elective course, the number of students was not very large, but it was a select group that proposed learning commons designs to library staff, with the best ideas being implemented. The library director also attended.

After coming to Kyushu University, I had put this course on hold as I had not yet established much collaboration with the library, but I have decided to resume it starting in the second semester of this academic year. It will be conducted as a Project-Based Learning (PBL) course. Unlike when I was in Kanazawa, Kyushu University has content such as “Project-Based Learning” and “Core Education,” but there is a significant shortage of physical space. The facilities that serve as the foundation for utilizing this content are optimized for traditional lecture-style classes, so there is the issue that they are honestly not suitable for courses like PBL or Core Education seminars. Therefore, I would like the students themselves to turn their attention to the learning environment they are currently in, and to think about why the spaces they occupy are designed the way they are, and what kind of learning environment design is suitable for future learning. It is also necessary to incorporate theories of Educational Technology and the Learning Sciences. This time, I decided against focusing on classroom space design due to low feasibility. Instead, I chose the university library’s learning commons as the subject, as it has high feasibility and allows for students’ opinions to be conveyed.

When I was in Kanazawa, some unconventional design proposals emerged, which was very interesting. Some were actually realized. I wonder what kind of ideas will come from the students at Kyushu University. I am looking forward to it. That said, in the second-semester PBL course, there are many unmotivated students, so there is the effort required to manage the class with this in mind… but I hope that good ideas will emerge. I would love for any library staff at our university who are available to come and see the poster session.