Learning Commons   Tags: information commons, learning commons, learning spaces, library spaces, rod library  

Photo by Elaine Chen, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa

The Learning Commons website is maintained by the Rod Library Learning Commons Task Force.

Questions can be directed to members of the Learning Commons Task Force by using the email:liblearningcommons@uni.edu

Learning Commons Task Force Members:

Jerilyn Marshall (Chair) - Rod Library

Ben Arnold - ITS-User Services

Gail Bunz - Rod Library

Pete Callaghan - Rod Library

Kavita Dhanwada - Ccllege of Humanities, Arts and Sciences

Gretchen Gould -Rod Library

Alexander Newkirk - Student representative

Lori Seawel - ITS-Educational Technology

Julie Williamson- Rod Library

Photo by Lori Seawel, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa

Across the country, the concept of a learning commons is seen as a place where students can engage in active learning in a flexible and technology-equipped space.

What are the goals of our learning commons?

By providing both a physical and organizational structure, the learning commons seeks to benefit the campus community with the following central goals:

• Create a central hub for faculty, staff, students, and the community to exchange ideas and enjoy a collective pursuit of learning.
• Offer connected learning experiences through service adjacencies and coordinated learning support.
• Provide a venue for enriching UNI's learning culture with seminars, dialogues, and events

The Learning Commons supports the mission of the University of Northern Iowa to provide“transformative learning experiences that inspire students to embrace challenge, engage in critical inquiry and creative thought, and contribute to society.”

The Learning Commons supports the Library’s goals to provide “high quality services responsive to the changing cultural, research, and informational needs of our community” and “functional, flexible, inviting, safe, technology-equipped learning spaces.”

Image from Wikimedia Commons, public domain

In our vision, a renovated and re-envisioned Rod Library would be a gathering place for the campus to access and interact with information in all its forms, where campus academic and scholarly activity is celebrated from discovery to creation to presentation.   It would include experimental classrooms, campus presentation spaces, access to the latest technologies, and collections of unique physical materials supporting campus curricula and showcasing campus history.

The new Rod Library would be a vibrant intellectual and social forum for the campus community.   Just as the Maucker Union is the campus’ recreational center, so will the Rod Library become the campus’ intellectual center,  a beautiful and inspiring signature building that embodies UNI’s commitment to student learning and scholarship. 

We look forward to working with UNI’s faculty and students to further develop this vision and help it to become a reality.

Phase 1 of the Learning Commons is located north of the Reference Desk on the main floor (2nd) of Rod Library.  Eventually the entire main floor will be transformed to the Learning Commons.

Map of Floor 2, Rod Library, Learning Commons Space