I have spent the last three days visiting ACU's library as part of the visiting committee. Great things are being planned for that facility. Before the Centennial in 06, they plan to implement a "learning commons" which will feature at least 14 new public access computers, a writing consultant, and a coffee shop for those students who want to come into the library and write and finish a product before they leave. Larger schools like Trinity and TCU have similar affairs and are raving about them.
It is nice to be on the cutting edge of something instead of lurking behind and griping about change. The new librarian hired last year from Purdue has been a glavanizing force in league with the provost Dwayne Van Rheenan. What a pair--ACU is so fortunate to have them.
Collaborative learning will be emphasized. As Marc Hamilton put it in a meeting, the 20 page print paper is here to stay, but many professors are asking students to do more visual alternatives with pictures, audio, video, theater components. And that jives so well with what I have been hearing about postmodern students. They crave such assignments. How exciting to watch a new generation!
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