Cal Poly's Learning Commons and Internet2: A Digital Learning and Teaching Library

1. Cal Poly’s Learning Commons and Internet2 Dr. Franz J. Kurfess I2 Champions Cal Poly

2. Overview • Introduction • Goals and Objectives • Learning Space • Internet2 and Learning Commons • Conclusions and Outlook

3. Introduction • renovation of an under-utilized area in the library offered an opportunity to re-think the role of the library • away from a repository of documents • new teaching and learning resource that will have the capacity to foster creative and flexible interactions and learning relationships among students, professors, resources, and technology • collaboration between library, ITS, faculty • solicitation of input from students, faculty

4. Goals • create and implement a working model for a digital learning and teaching library • learning communities interact in a rich physical and virtual environment supported by print, electronic, computing, and human resources • explore and advance interdisciplinary learning and scholarship • provide an infrastructure for collaboration and team work • local and remote participants • participatory design process involving students as the main client group

5. Objectives • offer research assistance and strategies • enhancing student information competence • provide flexible, multi-use space and services • promote cross-disciplinary inquiry and discourse • encourage academic and intellectual pursuits and partnerships • promote collaborative projects and scholarship • create a sense of community • students, faculty, researchers, staff and community both contribute to and take from a knowledge creation and dissemination process

6. Learning Space • collaborative learning • group study space • student work displays • rotating student art exhibits • academically-oriented social space • communities of practice • events, activities, conferences, forums • assistance with research & information competence • ADA-Assistive technology & ergonomically compliant

7. Phase I • Learning Hub / Genius Bar • Room 1: (216A) Smart Lab* (27 seats) • Room 2: (216B)Cinema & Presentation Rehearsal Studio (Multimedia Production & Playback) • Room 3: (217C) Smart (CAD) Lab* (25 seats) Room 4: (217D) Smart (CAD) Lab* (25 seats) • Plotter Printers & Supplies • Knowledge Managers • Room 5: (35-202)Collaborative workspace for students & faculty) * Scheduled by University Scheduling

8. Internet2 and Learning Commons • infrastructure • collaboration • access to remote resources • concentration of expertise

9. Infrastructure • ubiquitous and transparent as infrastructure • high-bandwidth, low latency, defined QoS • some rooms and areas are equipped for videoconferencing • smart labs/classrooms • collaboratory • digital video production studio • possible use of portable equipment and desktop equipment • Web cams, small Polycom units • facilities can be used as testbeds • incorporation of capabilities in other classrooms, labs

10. Collaboration • group learning facilities with easy access to (remote) collaboration tools • short-term availability of resources • example scenarios: • software engineering teams collaborating with industrial or research partners • marine biosciences, agriculture classes incorporating remote facilities • Avila Pier, Swanton Ranch • collaboration between classes at different institutions • e.g. Cal Poly, San Jose State, Lulea U. • internships and similar situations • students are temporarily away from campus • access to guest speakers and domain experts • attendance of on-line conferences, Web-cast presentations

11. Access to Remote Resources • Cal Poly resources • Swanton Ranch • Avila Pier • Cal State • electron microscope at Cal State East Bay • UC • UCSD supercomputing facilities • other universities • shared geospatial data repository • research vessels for marine biology • research institutions • NASA, Lawrence Livermore Lab • companies • CISCO, HP

12. Concentration of Expertise • currently, many of our I2 activities are almost invisible • only known to people directly involved • I2 champions play an important role, but don’t have a lot of resources and only limited impact • informal contacts between students • IT people working in I2-related areas • spatial proximity of related activities offers an opportunity for cross-pollination • students, librarians, faculty, ITS staff • e.g. Student Navigation Assistants at the genius bar

13. Input Solicitation • library • ITS • Center for Teaching and Learning • also housed in the librarly building • founding faculty • individual faculty members with specific interest • Campus Computing Committees • AACC, IACC, SC3, College Computing Committees • campus community • other institutions with similar approaches • Lulea University, Sweden • other Cal State campuses • Internet2 Commons

14. Input from Students • Cal Poly classes • CSC 484-W05 User Interaction Design and Development • CSC 581-S05 Knowledge Management • San Jose State • Library Sciences program • Lulea University, Sweden • social informatics graduate students

15. Status • phase I completed - April 05 • renovation of the space used • 3 smart labs moved to new space • genius bar, digital video production studio • Phase II under way • Collaborative Learning Communities • additional capabilities for labs, other spaces

16. Conclusions • Internet2 infrastructure is utilized to enhance capabilities of “Learning Commons” • video conferencing, collaboration • access to remote resources • concentration of expertise and facilities will hopefully increase I2 visibility on campus • easy access to facilities • sharing of experiences between users • staff and student assistants with practical experience

17. Outlook • a presentation and demonstration live from the Cal Poly “Learning Commons” at a future I2 meeting • people behind the scenery • student assistants • first experiences