New-look libraries at Western a hit among students and teachers alike

Feb. 9—RUSSIAVILLE — A project on an ancient civilization is an annual assignment in Ty Spangler's seventh grade social studies class at Western Middle School.

The project requires a properly cited and formatted research paper. Students must then present their findings to the class, teaching their peers what they learned with the help of a visual aid.

Spangler supplies his students with an exhaustive list of visual aid possibilities. This school year, kids had even more ways to make their presentation pop.

They could make a broadcast in front of a green screen, 3D print a small item related to their civilization or use makerspace materials to make something unique.

Some students jumped at the opportunity.

"There's a buzz in the room when kids are waiting (on a presentation) and they know they've been working on a green screen project," Spangler said.

These options are available to students through the libraries at Western School Corporation, which underwent a significant overhaul prior to this school year with the inclusion of STEM materials.

There are still books and librarians, but Western libraries are much more than simply a place to check out a book.

They are a place to work collaboratively on a project, make a podcast or a 3D print and let imaginations run wild.

The idea was spearheaded by Superintendent Mark DuBois, who pitched it to school staff. The idea was well received.

"A lot of the time when I walked by the library, lights were off and nobody was there," DuBois said. "We need to figure out a way to make it a hub, where students want to go."

A grant helped fund new equipment for the libraries in the intermediate, middle and high schools.

Now the spaces include interactive TVs where students can draw, crop pictures and work together on projects; rooms where they can make podcasts and videos; makerspace carts with materials like wooden sticks, electrical wire, plastic wheels and other things students can use to tinker and create.

The Western Primary library received a needed facelift. Carpet was added and a big circulation desk in the middle was removed. Combined, these changes make the library more inviting to young children.

"The atmosphere was really cold," DuBois said. "You wouldn't want to lay on the floor and read a book."

The changes have turned the libraries into some of the most happening spots at school, with teachers competing with one another for library time.

Jordyn Hall, Western's library media director, said the middle school library sees upward of 300 students a day.

One class used the makerspace carts to make battery-operated battle bots, which were related to a book the students read.

"Especially in the intermediate and middle school, so far, teachers are bringing their classes in and using it," she said. "It's become a hub, which it should be."

Getting more kids into the library is the ultimate goal for DuBois.

A 3D printer could be just the thing to spark an interest and a passion. A student might even want to read up more on their newfound interest, and what better place to do so than in a library? That in turn could get a kid interested in reading.

"I'm hoping a kid finds something and chooses to go that route," the superintendent said.

On Wednesday, Lisa Stipes and the Paw Print middle school newspaper team used the library to make a broadcast for its upcoming edition. Both classes and school clubs utilize the libraries.

A couple students worked on producing a news segment while seventh grader Tristan Fuller worked on making a weather map. The students want a weather segment.

Tristan used one of the interactive TVs to bring up a map of the United States from The Weather Channel website and traced it. The interactive screen allows the user to draw, type and surf the web.

Tristan is one of the students who took easily to the library's new tech. He demonstrated how to use one of the interactive screens at a school board meeting earlier this school year.

Spangler said the new equipment has been great for students who might not be all that engaged in class.

"You put them in front of Lincoln Logs and electrical wire, they go to town," he said.

Sipes assigned her seventh grade English class a video podcast project on adolescence and the experiences of middle school. Students had to write a script, include advice and either conduct interviews or have a panel discussion.

Students used the new library features do their projects, which included filming, splicing scenes together and public speaking (in front of a camera).

"Nobody balked at doing this," Sipes said. "This helps ... eliminate some of the fear of standing in front of a group."

Western has a model classroom in its administration building with all the same equipment found in libraries where teachers can learn how to use the tech, so they can in turn teach their students. Nate Schmidt, a technology integration specialist, helps teach the teachers in this regard.

"It's forced me out of my comfort zone," Spangler said.

The model classroom also has equipment, including a laser cutter, that isn't available in the libraries, at least not yet.

School folks said the response from teachers and students has been a pleasant surprise.

"I think this is the way education is going, and I think that it's great that we're headed in the same direction," Hall said. "Any school that is hesitant, I think they should look at the amount of growth that can happen in the classroom by having this in the library."

DuBois teased this is the only beginning. More ideas are in the works.

Spencer Durham can be reached at 765-454-8598, by email at spencer.durham@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter at @Durham_KT.