By: Cameron Alagna
“Excuse me, do you know where the Learning Commons is?”
“Yeah, you’re actually standing in it.”
Photo Credit: @parkland_college Instagram
Located on the second floor of the X-Wing, exciting changes are bubbling up behind brown wooden doors. Formerly known as the Library, Parkland College presents the new Learning Commons. The Learning Commons is a vibrant hub for academic needs such as printing pages for homework, tutoring help, or a gathering with friends to study. The new addition became official on the first day of classes━August 23rd, 2021, and it has a variety of resources easily accessible to everyone.
Morgann Quilty, the Associate Dean of the Learning Commons has “the birds-eye view” of all the resources being offered at the Learning Commons. She figures out how these amenities fit with the rest of the college, and how they can work with other faculty members to decide how to best supply what that they offer. Jane Smith, the Instructional Librarian at the Parkland College Library, oversees the instructional support services that are offered within the library, alongside Sue Jones who helps with any “developmental reading and she is especially good with math.” Additionally, they try to see ways to merge different services into the classroom. As of this fall, the Learning Commons offers 4 unique services: The Parkland College Library, peer tutoring, tech help, and the Writing Lab.
By having access to the library, students have a multitude of resources at their disposal. “The library offers research help to guide students on deciphering what information is credible versus what is not,” Morgann explains. “I teach students how to research and how to evaluate information in different classes” Smith adds. For students who may not be confident in their abilities to do so, the research help at the Parkland College Library supplies the tools necessary for finding high-quality pieces of information. The library also supplies a loanable technology collection available to all Parkland students. If students happen to need a webcam for Team meetings, a laptop, or even headphones, the library has it all free of charge. That’s correct, all the materials and resources are free. At the library, there are public computers, public printers, and a scanner, but most importantly plenty of space to study safely this semester. There are study booths and rooms available to use. The third-floor stacks are the library’s quiet area, where students can also go to study in complete silence if necessary. Peer tutoring is available in a variety of subjects ranging from math to humanities. In addition to this, there is a Tech help desk found on the first level of the library.
Previously found in D120, the Writing Lab joins in on the fun at the Learning Commons. Dr. Umeeta Sadarangani, the Coordinator of the Writing Lab and a Professor of English in the Humanities Department at Parkland College explained, “the Writing Lab is a free, walk-in service where writing faculty can help at any stage of writing in any course—from getting started to citing sources correctly—as well as with transfer essays, job application letters, and other writing projects.” The Writing Lab offers help in person and over Zoom. “Students can add Writing Lab on Cobra to see the schedule, to access tutoring on Zoom, and to find useful links and handouts, including about MLA and APA documentation,” Dr. Sadarangani explained. The Writing Lab also sponsors the School Supply Pantry. Right when entering the Learning Commons, a large shelf holds schools supplies for students to help themselves to. If students need notebooks, highlighters, binders, and much more, all of it is donated by School Supplies Pantry. By upholding one of Parkland College’s core values, Dr. Sadarangani added that the Writing Lab “is a place where critical thinking and inquiry are facilitated.” Most importantly, the Writing Lab encourages students to embrace their own writing, while also being able to find their sources correctly.
“More than anything else we want students to know that this is a safe space,” said Quilty. The Learning Commons is not only a place that has resources, but everyone has a single goal: to help students succeed. The staff at the Learning Commons is a melting pot of personalities that harmoniously come together to create the perfect place for students of all kinds. It is a safe place to ask questions, to be confused, to work together: and to feel like a home away from home. The Learning Commons staff is beyond excited to meet all the new students this year and cannot wait to experience the semester with everyone.