Learning Commons at Belfast School

You may have noticed the current trend to refer to a library as a learning commons. This phrase is meant to help people think of libraries in a new way. As we all adapt to the powerful resources of computer technology and the Internet, we expect to reach out to the whole world for information and connection to others. The quiet, cozy haven of the library has had to expand and diversify to keep pace with these changes.

Alberta Education’s 2015-2016 Guide to Education describes the learning commons as ― an inclusive, flexible, learner-centered, physical and/or virtual space for collaboration, inquiry, imagination and play to expand and deepen learning.In a learning commons, one would expect to find students who ― Explore – Create – Engage, as the Belfast School motto states. At Belfast, we see the whole school as the learning commons. Throughout the school, we try to retain quiet, cozy places for individual students while at the same time making flexible use of space for small and large groups of students, and we employ quality print, digital and human resources to support personalized learning.

Library

We still have a room at Belfast that we call the library and which holds our shared collection of print books for circulation to all students. We follow the school library tradition of selecting quality literature which supports student literacy and the curriculum, promotes intellectual freedom and showcases Canada’s rich cultural heritage. We hope you will assist your children in taking good care of our library books, but most of all we hope you will enjoy reading together!

Library Assistant | Ms. Jennifer James

She will be with us Monday, Wednesdays and alternating Fridays.