Towards a Learning Ecology: Canadian Learning Commons Conference June 20, 2006

1. The Importance of Forging Strong Partnerships Michael Ridley CIO and Chief Librarian Towards a Learning Ecology: Canadian Learning Commons Conference June 20, 2006

2. The Learning Commons Vision • a consolidation of services to support student learning, writing, research & technology • a common, convenient and accessible location with extended hours of operation • a vehicle for new collaborative opportunities • a way of thinking; anattitude

3. The Learning Commons Vision AVP Academic Teaching Support Services Library Open Learning Math and Stats Computing Services Learning & Writing Services CIO Alumni Affairs & Development Student Affairs

4. Nurtured Collaborative Capacity • collaboration is a muscle • trust through shared vision & experience • high tolerance for difference & ambiguity • unrelenting focus on institutional mission • managed self-interest • practicing the art of the possible

5. The Lessons of Collaboration Vision = Action Building Relationships Learning Leadership Community Development

6. Provincial Collaboration: OCUL browse + search + save + request + One of the largest scholarly information systems in the world Organizational transformation

7. National Collaboration: CRKN A collaborative program of 73 Canadian universities to expand the universe of digital information to build research capacity. Organizational transformation

9. The Opportunity & The Challenge A multi-institutional collaborative enterprise for learning support • a seamless “mash up” of skills, services and resources: e.g. Learning Commons 2.0 • building upon the success of the Learning Commons experience • extending to the provincial, national and/or international level

10. “When simple change becomes transformational change, the desire for continuity becomes a dysfunctional mirage.” The Mirage of Continuity (Hawkins & Battin)

11. Confessions of a Control Freak

14. Provost’s White Paper • “The Lighting of a Fire” – a campus dialogue • only the status quo is unacceptable • innovation; risk; change • leadership and champions • an opportunity for new ideas: • Learning Commons 2.0? www.uoguelph.ca/vpacademic/whitepaper/

15. Organizational Challenges • strengthening collaborative capacity • locating the shared ground • replacing control with trust • moving toward “open governance” • enabling innovation; risk; change • leveraging technology (particularly Web 2.0)

16. “Culture eats strategy for lunch every day of the week.” Elson Floyd, President, University of Missouri

17. In the final analysis the Titanic was not sunk by an iceberg. The demise of the Titanic was brought about by the rise of commercial air travel. Airplanes, not icebergs. As we contemplate new collaborative learning enterprises are we thinking about airplanes or icebergs?

18. The Importance ofForging Strong Partnerships Learning Commons 2.0 A multi-institutional collaborative enterprise for learning support. Is it the right idea? Are we ready to provide leadership?