Room Booking Learning Commons
Welcome to Sheridan’s Learning Commons opened at Trafalgar in Sept, 2008 and at Davis in Dec. 2009. The Learning Commons are state-of-the-art study support environments designed with students’ comfort, convenience and stimulation in mind. Created in response to student demands for enhanced access to space, equipment and personal assistance to support their studies, the Learning Commons are dynamic, collaborative, student centred spaces, both physical and online, with a primary purpose of enabling and enriching learning.
WHAT YOU WILL FIND IN THE LEARNING COMMONS
As an integral component of Sheridan’s educational offerings, the Learning Commons supports and enhances teaching and learning by providing one-stop assistance to all students with all their information and research needs. It is a learning environment designed to help all students, including those with special needs. In the Learning Commons, you will find:
- computer work stations and laptop hookups
- a variety of open and closed spaces, with comfortable lounge seating, for group or individual study
- staff to help you find research materials for assignments, assist you with software and technology questions, and provide you with academic support services.
- access to electronic resources (books, articles, encyclopedias, etc) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- a variety of databases covering most of the subjects/programs offered at Sheridan
- online software tutorials (over 400 titles)
- RefWorks (an online citation management system)
- the Library's online catalogue for locating learning resources including books, videos, DVDs, etc.
- Web chat with Library staff for research assistance
- instruction on how to 'cite sources'
- tutorials on how to use our databases
- orientation tours
- in-class and individual research instruction, with advice about plagiarism and copyright law
- tutoring services
- an online booking system for Learning Commons group study rooms
- wireless connectivity
- Microsoft Office suite
- and much, much more…
Basically, then, the Learning Commons brings together in one place the services that support students in their learning, writing, research, and use of information technology. Our goal is to provide you all the resources and tools necessary for academic success. The Learning Commons encourages and enables collaboration, discussion, and peer learning.
COMMONS AREA
Computer workstations [PC & Mac], Group Study rooms, Quiet Study rooms, with carrels, Training and Presentation Practice rooms, Peer Tutoring rooms and Video Conference Rooms, Multiple power connections for laptops, Wireless Internet environment, Printers [Black & white].
Guidelines for Use
General/All Areas
We ask all users of the Library Learning Commons to acknowledge, and support, the basic purpose of the environment, as stated above, by behaving in ways that are appropriate to it, that is: respect for the physical environment (furniture, equipment etc.), and consideration for the needs of other users.
Learning Commons staff, identified by badges, are responsible for ensuring that the specified standards of conduct are respected.
Food & Beverages
The consumption of snack food and covered beverages is allowed in both the Library and main room of the Learning Commons.
Covered beverages are permitted in the group study rooms. Food is not allowed in the study rooms.
What constitutes a snack in the Library and Learning Commons? A snack is cold food that is not odorous (no smells please) and doesn’t require utensils. Deliveries of food are not allowed. For specific examples of permitted and not permitted food, please refer to the illustrated signs at the Library and the Learning Commons entrances.
Hot meals may be consumed in the seating area located just outside of the Library or other designated areas across campus such as the food courts.
Out of courtesy to others, please dispose of trash and clean up your work area before you leave.
Noise
Please be respectful of others. Excessive noise or disruptive behaviour that interfere with the academic learning of other students is not acceptable in the Library Learning Commons.
Games
Although the Library Learning Commons is designed to be a relaxed environment, students are asked to use the facilities for academic purposes. Please limit gaming activities to those associated with course work.
Students who do not comply with this policy may be asked to leave.
Security
To maximize security of all students and property there will be regular monitoring of the Library Learning Commons area by security personnel.
Group Study (GS) Rooms
Group study rooms are for the use of two or more students. You may be asked to leave if you are alone.
- Rooms are for Sheridan College students’ use. Only Sheridan students can book Group Study Rooms.
- Students must book these rooms online.
- Rooms may be booked for a group for a maximum of two hours at one time and only one booking is allowed in any one day for the same group.
- If you are more than 10 minutes late to claim a room it can then be booked by others.
- The door of a group room should be locked while the room is in use
- Personal property should not be left unattended in the room. The Library Learning Commons staff are not responsible for lost items.
- Covered beverages are permitted in the group study rooms. Food is not allowed in the study rooms.
- After use, the whiteboard should be wiped clean, A/V equipment turned off
- Learning Commons staff will cancel any bookings that violate any conditions of these Group Study Room policies
Quiet Study Rooms
These rooms are designed to provide a very quiet study space. The Following policies apply to the Quiet Study Rooms:
Trafalgar Learning Commons rooms C148b and C140a and Davis rooms J314m and J314g
- Covered beverages and snack food permitted
- Please no conversation
Training Room
The primary purpose of this room is for Library Services staff and their colleagues to provide training to students in Information Literacy and computer skills. At the discretion of Library Learning Commons management the room can be booked by other College staff for training of students.
Computer Workstations
We ask that you be considerate of your fellow students at all times and use the computers for research, assignments, checking email, or other academic purposes. Please do not use the Library Learning Commons computers to play games [see above re games].
In order to support comfortable, convenient and fair access to the Library Learning Commons workstations, personal property is not to be left when the computers are not being used. Library Learning Commons staff are authorized to remove personal belongings from unattended workstations.
Users of the Library Learning Commons are subject to Sheridan College policies on computer use and responsible computing. Consideration and respect for others are expected, and required, regarding the display of materials on computer screens.
We welcome your comments or questions on these guidelines or any other matters related to Library Learning Commons.
Contacts:
Address all your questions to designated Library Learning Commons Staff.
In the event that the Library Learning Commons staff are not available, please direct your questions to Sheridan Library Services’ front desk.