Cal Poly Learning Commons - Part 2 of 3

How is this renovation user-centered?

The Cal Poly Learning Commons Project is an example of ‘participatory co-design.’ What does this mean?

“Participatory co-design
• Is a philosophy: collaboration improves usability and builds relationships
• Is a process: user-centric, interdisciplinary, contextual investigations
• Is a set of techniques: usability testing, inquiry learning, interactive evaluation” (Somerville, 2007)

The Kennedy Library renovations in 2005 were preceded by many months of study into what students and faculty needed and wanted from a new space. This study was conducted not by a panel of outside experts, but by actual and potential users of the space. This ‘by students, for students’ approach to Commons design is apparently unusual, according to literature searches conducted by students in Sweden (Lundkvist, Sundlof, Tanskanen, & Tiburzi, 2005). As part of their coursework, “graduate and undergraduate students in human computer interaction (HCI), knowledge management (KM), information science (IS), and social informatics (SI) from three institutions in two countries” (Kurfess et al, 2005) used various methods to determine what was needed and to work on possible solutions.

In conjunction with the Cal Poly Learning Commons Project, several students in Sweden investigated what a potential Learning Commons on their own campus (Lulea University of Technology) could be like (Lundkvist, Sundlof, Tanskanen, & Tiburzi, 2005). They conducted one-on-one interviews with university professors, librarians, and IT staff, and focus group interviews with university students in several groups, including a group of “special needs” students with dyslexia. Likewise, the Cal Poly students conducted focus groups, along with surveys and usability studies of tools such as electronic whiteboards (Somerville, Kurfess, & Mirijamdotter, 2007).

Here is a photo of several concept drawings for the Learning Commons, completed by Cal Poly students (image below: Somerville, Kurfess, & Mirijamdotter, 2007).


The Kennedy Library at Cal Poly was partially renovated to include a new service, a Learning Commons space, in 2005. Further renovations to the Learning Commons are underway this summer, which include replacing the 1980s study carrels with more flexible furnishings, building 8 glass-walled group study rooms with computers, and adding an eating area. “The café is an important addition to the second floor because many students' chosen study spots depend on where they can get a late cup of coffee, according to [Michael] Miller [Dean of Library Services]. With [café] Julian's presence in the library, all study necessities will be on campus” (Bieker, 2008). Comfortable couches will also be included in the café area (Somerville, Kurfess, & Mirijamdotter, 2007), which will encourage students to linger, thus solidifying in their minds the image of the library as a nice place to spend many hours.

The old study carrels (image below: Kennedy Library, 2008a) provided a small individual workspace, and made collaboration with groups difficult.


The new area will include round tables (and what appears to be movable/reconfigurable tables) where groups can gather to talk or work on computers together. See a large image of the floorplan online here, beautifully drawn by Kristina Chung (Kennedy Library, 2008b). Students involved in the Cal Poly Learning Commons Project felt it was important to “create a sense of community” where “students, faculty, researchers, staff, and community both contribute to and take from a knowledge creation and dissemination process” (Somerville, Kurfess, & Mirijamdotter, 2007, p.8).

Flexible furnishings, group rooms, and quiet spaces were indicated as highly desirable by many participants in the American study (Somerville, Kurfess, & Mirijamdotter, 2007; Somerville, 2007) and in the Swedish study (Lundkvist, Sundlof, Tanskanen, & Tiburzi, 2005). In 2005, Kennedy Library’s old chairs that probably reminded students of their parents were discarded (image below: Figueroa, 2008) and replaced with new comfortable and attractive seating.



In addition to the physical re-arrangement of spaces and new spaces (group study rooms), the simple factors of new paint, new carpet, and new furniture all will serve to make the space more pleasant for students. “Atmosphere and how inviting an environment dictate whether they use the space, are encouraged to be creative and productive there” (Gelfand, 2005, p. 10). Artwork and plants were recommended by a science librarian writing about the viewpoints of undergraduates towards libraries (Gelfand, 2005), and by the focus groups the Swedish study (Lundkvist, Sundlof, Tanskanen, & Tiburzi, 2005).



Bibliography

Bieker, C. (2008, July 17). Library becomes more study-friendly. Mustang Daily. Retrieved from the Mustang Daily web site: http://media.www.mustangdaily.net/media/storage/paper860/news/2008/07/17/News/Library.Becomes.More.StudyFriendly-3391914.shtml.

Figueroa, M. (2008). Poly [set of images]. Retrieved August 2, 2008 from the Flickr web site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/emdot/sets/72157600454052855/.

Gelfand, J. (2005). Library as changing place: Viewpoints from university undergraduates. Library Hi Tech News, 22(4), 10-12.

Kennedy Library. (2008). 2nd floor renovation Summer 08 [set of images]. Retrieved August 2, 2008 from the Flickr web site: http://flickr.com/photos/kennedylibrary/sets/72157606243857781/.

Kennedy Library (2008). Renovation poster. Retrieved August 2, 2008 from the Flickr web site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kennedylibrary/2679778361/sizes/l/in/set-72157606242990643/.

Kurfess, F., et al (2005). Toward a user-centered I2-enabled collaborative learning and teaching environment: The Cal Poly Scandinavian style participatory design project [PowerPoint slides]. Presented at the Internet2 Member Meeting, September 20, 2005. Retrieved from the Internet2 Members webs site: http://events.internet2.edu/2005/fall-mm/sessionDetails.cfm?session=2254&event=239.

Lundkvist, P., Sundlof, R., Tanskanen, S., & Tiburzi,M. (2005). Strategic design of a learning commons at Lulea University of Technology. Lulea, Sweden: Lulea University of Technology. Retrieved from the Lulea University of Technology web site: http://epubl.ltu.se/1402-1536/2005/19/LTU-TR-0519-SE.pdf.

Somerville, M.M., Kurfess, F., & Mirijamdotter, A. (2007). Campus learning spaces: Two innovative design approaches [PowerPoint slides]. Presented at Educause Western Regional Conference, May 7, 2007. Retrieved from the Educause Connect web site: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/WRC07037A.pdf.

Somerville, M.M. (2007). A Collaborative co-design approach for student-centric learning commons [PowerPoint slides]. Presented at the Educause 2007 Annual Conference, October 23, 2007. Retrieved from the Educause Connect web site: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EDU07259.pdf.