Carleton University recently announced a $2 million renovation for the fourth floor of MacOdrum Library, including the Discovery Centre. The space will be renamed the Future Learning Lab and is set to be unveiled in the fall of 2022.
The project will prioritize bringing educators and students together, according to a press release from the university. The Future Learning Lab is expected to provide several research and innovation grants for students and instructors.
The project is partially funded by the Government of Ontario, which has donated $1 million through the Training Equipment and Renewal Fund, that Carleton is matching.
The fund was established in 2021 to provide funding for universities looking to purchase and renew state-of-the-art equipment.
The renovation promises increased seating and study space, as well as a hub for student connection, collaboration and research.
“The library has always been at the centre of teaching, learning and research and [is] an essential gateway to knowledge,” university librarian Amber Lannon said. “It’s the ideal location for this student-centred space.”
David Hornsby, Carleton associate vice-president (teaching and learning), said the newly renovated space will address a campus need for student study space by increasing seating to 841 seats.
The learning lab would be a “spot to work, a place to sit, hang out [and make] connections,” he added.
Hornsby added the learning lab will be equipped with new technology, including an XR lab, a media space, and HyFlex technologies.
“The lab seeks to be an educational technology sandbox where students and instructors can experiment with new and emerging technologies yet to be determined,” he said.
The space will also provide access to support services due to its proximity to the Centre for Student Academic Support, encouraging students to use resources accessible to them.
The university says the Future Learning Lab supports Carleton’s Strategic Integrated Plan (SIP), an initiative outlining Carleton’s future with a focus on student-centred learning. The SIP was approved by the university’s Board of Governors and Senate in 2020.
The Future Learning Lab will address the SIP’s goal of sharing knowledge and shaping the future.
It will be unveiled in two parts: First, a renovation of the space, followed by the implementation of grants and projects that will be housed in the lab.
“The pandemic has shown us that […] collaboration is really important for learning.”
These programs intend to foster collaboration between educators, staff and students, centering student perspectives on teaching and learning.
Carleton’s Students as Partners Program, which allows students the opportunity to work with faculty and staff on course design initiatives, is an example of one of the programs that would be offered in this space.
Hornsby said collaborations between faculty and students at the Future Learning Lab would fundamentally improve student success at the university.
“The more collaboration we have, the better,” he said. “The pandemic has shown us that […] collaboration is really important for learning.”
Featured image from file
