Author: Tanya Phillips

Learning and Technology

With the vast amount of information and the advancements in technology, the way students learn and the how faculties teach is changing.  This shift in education, driven by technology, has uncovered an opportunity for school libraries to play an important role in school improvement in this educational transformation era (Canadian Library Association, 2014).  “For technology to affect student learning, schools must ensure that appropriate resources are in place” (Day, 2010, p. 43).  The Learning Commons will supply these resources. The Learning Commons goes beyond the provision of resources, however; it enables learners and faculty to use and experiment with the resources. “The finding of most studies is that technology initiatives will be successful only if professional development and technology support are part of the implementation process” (Nagel, 2010 as cited in Logan, 2010, p. 34). The Royal Bay Learning Commons acts as the laboratory for the experimentation and understanding how the technology can best support the pedagogy to increase student learning and motivation.

Written by Tanya Phillips

References:

Candian Library Association (2014). Leading Learning: Standards of Practice for School Library Learning Commons in Canada. Retrieved from http://clatoolbox.ca/casl/slic/llsop.pdf

Day, C.W. (2010, Feb 1). Classroom Technology: Do you have the right tools for 2010. American School and University Magazine. Retrieved from http://asumag.com/constructiontechnology/tech-talk-classroom-technology

Hayes. T (2014, Jan) Library to Learning Commons. A Recipe for Success. Education Canada Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.cea-ace.ca/education-canada/article/library-learning-commons

Logan, G. (2010). Mobile Technologies in the Classroom.  ATA Magazine, 91(1), pp. 32-35.

 

What is a Learning Commons?

What is a Learning Commons?

Tanya Phillips

Imagine a school where there is a physical and virtual space for collaboration among students, faculty and administration. This space is “the hub of the school, where exemplary learning and teaching are showcased, where professional development, teaching and learning expestudents workingrimentation and action research happen” (Loertscher, Koechlin & Zwaan, 2008 as cited in Hayes, 2015).  The faculty and administration identify that students learn in unique ways and the concept of a learner centered environment is a part of the school’s culture.  Administration and faculty collaborate to “…build the capacity of learners to make sense of the world around them, to graduate good citizens in a democratic society, and to prepare our youth for successful careers and healthy, satisfying personal lives” (Canadian Library Association, 2014). The British Columbia’s Teacher Librarian Association (BCTLA) has identified the need for the scenario described and are working to transform the library into a Learning Commons in schools across BC, among these – schools in the Sooke School District.students collacorating

“A Learning Commons is a common, or shared, learning ‘space’ that is both physical and virtual. It is designed to move students beyond mere research, practice, and group work to a greater level of engagement through exploration, experimentation, and collaboration. A Learning Commons is more than a room or a website. A Learning Commons allows users to create their own environments to improve learning. A Learning Commons is about changing school culture, and about transforming the way learning and teaching occur” (Loertscher, Koechlin & Rosenfeld, 2012).

 

References:

Canadian Library Association (2014).Leading Learning: Standards of Practice for School Library Learning Commons in Canada. Retrieved from http://clatoolbox.ca/casl/slic/llsop.pdf

Hayes. T (2014, Jan) Library to Learning Commons. A Recipe for Success. Education Canada Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.cea-ace.ca/education-canada/article/library-learning-common

Loertscher, D.V., Koechlin, C. & Rosenfeld, E. (2012). The virtual learning commons: Building a participatory school learning community. Salt Lake City, UT: Learning Commons Press.

Curio.ca

Click HERE to access CURIO.Ca

 

For a quick reference of some suggested programming, view  the  English 2016/2017 Catalogue. In French 2016/2017 Catalogue French.

 

Royal Bay Secondary School has a subscription to the Curio.ca platform, our IP authentication services enable you to screen CBC and Radio-Canada content anywhere inside your institution without creating an account.

However, if you would like to create playlists and view from home, you’ll need to create an account:

 

HOW TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT: 

 

  1. Look for the Login button in the upper right corner.
  2. Enter the access code.  This code can be obtained from the RBSS LC or retrieve it from the password protected online textbook page.
  3. Fill out the short registration form and hit Continue.
  4. An activation link will be sent to you by email.
  5. When you receive your activation email, follow the link and enter your email and password to login.

Return visitors

Once you’ve set up your Curio.ca account, on return visits you can use the same Login button to enter your email and password.

Please note that teachers and students that have already created an account last year, can continue to view the content with the same email and password. If they have forgotten the password, they can click on (forgot my password).

CBC Digital Archives

The CBC Archives team has been a unique collaboration of creative teams in Toronto working together with archivists and educational writers across Canada.  Students can search the database for topics of interest.  Teachers will find ideas for incorporating CBC’s Radio and TV archives into your classroom along with lesson plans and activity sheets, which you can download. All our materials are provided at no charge.

Click HERE to access these resources.

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