Beyond physical space: Implementing a virtual learning commons at an urban community college

Authors

Heba Elsayed, CUNY Hostos Community CollegeFollow
Carlos Guevara, CUNY Hostos Community CollegeFollow
Rebecca Hoda-Kearse, CUNY Hostos Community CollegeFollow
Isabel Li, Hostos Community CollegeFollow
Kate Lyons, CUNY Hostos Community CollegeFollow
George Rosa, Hostos Community CollegeFollow
Varun Sehgal, Hostos Community CollegeFollow

Document Type

Book Chapter or Section

Publication Date

2013

Abstract

The administration, faculty, and staff at Hostos Community College strive to improve students’ computer and information literacy skills while meeting the distinct needs of Millennials. In 2007, Hostos initiated a project to reconfigure physical spaces throughout the campus (areas in the Library, Academic Learning Center, Educational Technology Office, and Academic Computing Center) and establish a unified virtual space, creating a cross-divisional entity: the Information Learning Commons (ILC).

This case discusses the formation of the ILC Committee, the group that envisions and manages physical ILC spaces’ renovation and also develops virtual spaces; the planning and implementation of physical learning commons spaces; the web applications that unify the ILC; the benefits of reducing duplication and optimizing resource utilization; Hostos’ current challenges with the ILC concept; and finally, the imminent expansion of virtual commons spaces. Hostos is an exemplar in how collaboration can creatively maximize resources through technology to meet students’ needs.

Comments

This chapter was originally published in Cases on Higher Education Spaces: Innovation, Collaboration, and Technology, edited by Russell G. Carpenter and available at http://www.igi-global.com/book/cases-higher-education-spaces/69212