Student Focus Groups

A call for student volunteers was put out to the ROHS students to give input on the ROHS Learning Commons Redesign. Each group viewed three videos. The first video gave a digital overview of a Learning Commons at a university level and the different spaces within it. The second video showed how students at a high school felt about their current Media Center and why they wanted it to transition to a Learning Commons. The Last video discussed a middle school Learning Commons and focused on the function of it from a teacher's perspective.  We talked about how aesthetics and function work together in these spaces.  They are both important, but ultimately it's about the learning experiences and the learning communities we build in these spaces. This was a working lunch for us. Students took notes about what they saw, heard, and liked throughout the videos.

Students were then tasked with thinking up their 'dream learning space'.  They loved the prompt, "if money were no object..." They were given prompting questions and then asked to analyze (or find) photos of high school Learning Commons from all over the world.  They examined the images about what they saw and what they liked. We had a discussion about each point that they came up with from the photos and they actively took notes to gather information.  They then had to relate what they saw and what they liked to our current space.  How could we do that here at ROHS? Many of the students had great ideas for organization, arrangement and layouts. The students were very thoughtful about their points and why they felt a change was needed. We got a lot of insight on what students liked and wanted in the ROHS Learning Commons, but also what they didn't like in the current space.  We don't have a prescribed process for this change, but what we know is that we want students to 'want' to come down to this space, not just be 'taken' to it.  It should be a warm welcoming environment where active learning takes place.

Some of the highlights:

• flexible furniture and spaces
• comfortable furniture
• a place to be able to have a snack
• quiet and noisy areas
• adjustable/functional walls
• collaborative rooms
• updated / powerful technology
• Place to use various forms of technology
• bright and welcoming

I think the students liked being involved in the decision process. One girl commented, "Thanks for giving me the opportunity to make a difference."  We have some great kids here at ROHS.  #ravenchangers

Just another fun day working with our awesome students. : ]