The Emerging Technology Collection at Carleton University Library: Supporting Experiential Learning in the University Curriculum

Abstract

The Emerging Technology Collection at Carleton University is a successful collaboration between three units on campus: the Library, the Discovery Centre for Undergraduate Research and Engagement, and Information Technology Services. The Emerging Technology Collection began as a pilot project in January 2015 to circulate Raspberry Pis and Arduinos at the request of faculty in the Engineering Department. Due to the success of the pilot project, the collection now provides access to over 70 pieces of technology equipment for loan to support experiential learning for students. Development and implementation of the Collection is discussed. The Emerging Technology Collection has provided a number of academic benefits, such as innovative student projects, outreach and faculty engagement, and community engagement. There have also been benefits for the Library including promotion of the Library collection, continuing education for Library staff, and significant usage of the Emerging Technology Collection. Some of the challenges faced during the development of this collection are analyzed, including the need to register certain products, maintenance and upkeep of the collection, damage and replacement costs, and promoting the use of emerging technology across disciplines. This successful project underscores the value of a shared space where different units on campus can work together to develop and deliver an innovative new service. Finally, this project demonstrates the value of innovation in academic libraries that are responsive to new developments and deliver useful services.Partnership: The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research, vol. 12, no. 1 (2017) 2 Incorporating innovation into the organizational culture of academic libraries can be a challenge, but it is possible when Library leadership actively supports new ideas and services.

littleBits: Not Just for the Kids

“…At the request of engineering faculty, this circulating technology collection began as a pilot project in 2015 to circulate Raspberry Pis and Arduinos. As the collection grew, littleBits were added along with several other pieces of technology (Cross & Tucci, 2017). To demonstrate the optical properties of water, littleBits are incorporated into a spectrophotometer activity that has been tested in several academic settings, including graduate level science and engineering courses (Schollaert Uz, 2016).…”

Student Information Use and Decision-Making in Innovation Competitions and the Impact of Librarian Interventions

“…Academic libraries have an extensive history of supporting experiential learning, whether through the framework of a competition or in a variety of other settings. This includes library support for internal initiatives like makerspaces and device lending (Barrett et al, 2018;Cross & Tucci, 2017;Rogers, Leduc-Mills, O'Connell, & Huang, 2015), as well as classroom-based activities like client-based design and active learning projects (Ishak & Ong, 2016;Spackman, 2016). Service learning, experiential learning that emphasizes civic engagement (Lim & Bloomquist, 2015), is both supported by libraries (Herther, 2008) and used by libraries to connect with their local communities (Heiselt & Wolverton, 2009).…”