Services
Glendale Learning Commons
Formerly known as the Glendale School Library, our new Glendale Learning Commons is quickly becoming a fresh and new sort of learning hub for students, staff and our Glendale families. As an aspect of a Alberta Education Ministerial Order governing student learning, a new look "learning commons" context became mandatory, and schools across the province set forth to re-tool their libraries in order that these learning environments are responsive and supporting 21st Century learning skillsets.
A learning commons is an inclusive, flexible, learner-centered, physical or virtual space for collaboration, inquiry, imagination and play.
Policy and Guidelines for Learning Commons in Alberta are found here. Of primary importance is the requirement that Learning Commons add value to our 21st Century learning environment through benefits that must include:
- Learning commons promote global and cultural understanding as students collaborate with their local and broader community to investigate and create solutions to complex problems
- Learning commons emphasize active and collaborative engagement and encourage the co-creation of knowledge by all learners
- The virtual aspect of a learning commons (a VLC) promotes more efficient use of technology for creation and sharing of knowledge as well as enabling 24/7 access to resources and shared collaborative space for all students
- Research shows improved student achievement and literacy development for students who have access to quality school library services, which include learning commons
We have been working on a variety of initiatives to transform our Glendale Learning Commons into an environment that offers these benefits, and more.
New Layout and Look
We have been acquiring new and varied furniture to accommodate different styles and sizes of learners. We now offer multiple different sorts of gathering and collaborative learning spaces for different purposes. We continue to look for new ways to configure the environment so it is a free-flowing, literacy enhancing space where everyone feels welcome and purposeful.
We have framed our Glendale Learning Commons as an "intercultural" learning space, and we're working hard to reflect the wonderfully diverse representation of people who learn at Glendale every day. We display art and literature created by our students and staff, and we also host traveling galleries of professional work by artists, authors, bloggers and performers.
We host book readings by published authors in our Learning Commons, and we host special presentations, both virtually and in person for kids from every grade.
Digital Environment
We have recently added a new projection unit and audio hook up to the Learning Commons. We are now enabled to leverage a virtual learning context for small or large groups in addition to the multiple charge stations for portable devices, and several stationary Internet access locations for look-up and research purposes.
Tumble Books
We offer a free Tumble Book Library connection through our Learning Commons. Tumble Books is an online collection of Tumble Books – animated, talking picture books which teach kids the joy of reading in a format they'll love. Tumble Books are created by adding animation, sound, music and narration to existing picture books in order to produce an electronic picture book which you can read, or have read to you.
Our School username is glendale
Our School password is books
Events In Support of Literacy
In addition to the special book reading events and presentations mentioned above, we also host larger scale events to promote literacy and highlight our Learning Commons as the learning and cultural hub of our school. One such event is our annual book fair.