At the February 10, 2015 Board Meeting, trustees learned about the transition of the library at A.A. Wright Public School in Wallaceburg into a Learning Commons.
Within a Learning Commons, new relationships are formed between students and teachers; new technologies are realized and utilized, as both students and educators experience news ways to learn.
The A.A. Wright Learning Commons, a hub of learning activity at the school, allows for students to enjoy traditional books in a comfortable setting and provides a flexible learning environment that allows for exploration and inquiry.
Tables have ‘whiteboard’ tops for students and staff to make notes and plans. Tables can be easily moved to allow the space to be used in a variety of ways. There is access to physical and digital resources to explore and inquiry about topics from the curriculum.
Students have space to present what they have learned to other students, such as platform and flat screen TV that can connect to student iPads. There is also opportunity for students to create physical or digital items that capture their learning from physical models, to digital movies, to iPad posters explaining a topic in pictures, text, and design.
School staff have facilitated monthly technology ‘Maker Night’, in the Learning Commons in partnership with the Chatham-Kent Public Library (Wallaceburg Branch), where students and their families have created:
– Art Robots
– Digital Gingerbread Houses
– Electrical circuits
– Toy Hacking Creations.
The Learning Commons has hosted a significant number of extra-curricular activities throughout the school day and beyond:
– Art Club
– Reading Club
– Minecraft Club
– Author Visits
– Big Sisters Go Girls Program
– YMCA Beyond the Bell Program
A.A. Wright has resources such as:
– 1 iPad for every 2 students
– 3D Printer
– Flat screen TV for projecting digital projects.
– SMARTBoards in each classroom.
– Robust WIFI throughout the school
The re-purposing of the library into a hub of activity, a Learning Commons, was made possible through the support of the Sue Talach Memorial Book Fund and the Union Gas Helping Hands in Action program.
Photo from the A.A. Wright Facebook Page: Author Michael Wade visited the school recently, thanks to the Sue Talach Book Fund.
