Reflections on Participation in LSC Webinar

Last week, the Noel Studio’s very own Dr. Carpenter presented in a webinar through the Learning Spaces Collaboratory (LSC).  The LSC is a collaborating partnership between researchers, academics, architects, and others that focuses on taking what is known about learning at the undergraduate level and applying that to space and environment development.  Also presenting in the webinar were Shane Richardson and Rachel Winter, both of whom are graduate consultants at the Noel Studio.  They were asked to share some of their experiences of preparing for and presenting in this webinar, which attracted administrators from across the country.

What was your role for this webinar?

Rachel: Our [Shane and I] involvement was primarily with the intent of providing student and consultant perspectives of the Noel Studio.

 Shane: Rachel and I were given the opportunity to speak from a student perspective on the Noel Studio’s space design. We discussed how consultants help students navigate the different spaces and utilize the various tools in the space.

How did the webinar benefit you as a consultant and future educator?

Rachel: Seeing the two other Writing Centers was definitely eye-opening, facilitating a new perspective on the issue of space and all of the myriad possibilities of the writing center environment. I learned a great deal about the usefulness of low-tech manipulatives and whiteboards.

Shane: Hearing from other institutions, as well as seeing the early phases of the Noel Studio’s construction through pictures, gave me a fuller appreciation for the intentional choices made in space design. I better understand how the different spaces (e.g., the Invention Space and Practice Rooms) contribute to the progression of creativity that occurs throughout the Noel Studio

How do you personally use the Noel Studio spaces for learning and creativity?

Rachel: I use the Noel Studio as a creative, open space for doing individual and group work. I like being able to communicate with others around me as I write a paper or prepare for a class without having to monitor our noise level or worry about bothering those around us. I also use the Studio for my classes and take advantage of the helpful workshops offered by the staff.

The Noel Studio’s design was planned to foster creativity, collaboration, and communication.  Whether you’re working on a group project, meeting with a consultant, or studying for your next exam, there’s a space in the Studio for you.   

- Katie Beck

Contact Information

Katie Beck
kathryn_beck5@mymail.eku.edu

Published on October 06, 2014