“Thinkering Spaces”
And now, finally, a full-on positive take on a concept relevant to the world today, focused on “just-in-time” learning – and tied in ways to the growing focus on technology as a vehicle for boosting students’ metacognitive achievements.
It incorporates my view that libraries need to become “application centers” (not in the sense of being a place where “Applications (ie computer applications) are housed, but a place where ideas are gathered, mulled over, and then applied to real-world problems.
The concept is to provide”Thinkering Spaces” in libraries and the idea is coming to a library near you – perhaps sooner than you can imagine. Perhaps even to ISB’s Main Library! In a recent School Head’s Blog Post, ISB Head Bill Gerritz proposed the need for an “Invention Center” at ISB. Coincidentally, our Main Library Review Committee is “edging” toward the idea of a newly developed Main Library as an “Information Learning Commons” rather than a traditional bricks ‘n mortar collection space. Put these three concepts together and you’ve got an incredibly dynamic vision for the future of learning at ISB
Think “Minority Report”, where Tom Cruise stands at a Smart media wall and assembles all the bits he needs to draw conclusions which will allow him to not only solve, but to actually prevent a crime. Then think modular versions of Tom’s big wall set up in fully reconfigurable spots around a newly redesigned Main Library space. Think students, teachers, parents, and guests, all finding comfortable seating in appropriate spaces with specialized tools designed to let them turn their dreams into realities.
