A New Frontier for Academic Spaces: Perspectives on the Noel

Studio for Academic Creativity

Dr. Russell CarpenterEastern Kentucky University

A Presentation for the National Association of Communication Centers Conference

Greencastle, IN | 13 March 2010

A Space in Development

Physical Space Intellectual Space

. . . a community of people who share ways of thinking and acting (Hennessey, 192)

. . . entering integrally into the evolution of consciousness toward greater interiorization and openness

(Ong, 176)

Communication practices are informed by the written and spoken word.

Effective communication is informed by information literacy practices that occur throughout the development process.

Strength through Integration

Remediation (Jay David Bolter and Richard Grusin) applied to physical space

◦ Refashioned and improved version of previous space

◦ Content of older space can be poured into the new one

Remediation: Theoretical Motivation for an Integrated Space

Applied Remediation Example 1

Orality Kiosk, Presentation Suites and Practice Rooms, Conference Room

Literacy Invention Space, Discovery Classroom

Applied Remediation Example 2

Kiosk Invention Space Presentation Suite and Practice Rooms Breakout Spaces Discovery Classroom Conference Room

Immersion through Thoughtful Iterations of Spatiality

Understanding elements of communication Seeing connections between communication and

appropriate information Utilizing fundamentals of critical and creative thinking

to create and revise communication products Working with consultants to develop research

strategies, organize and refine ideas, deliver articulate presentations, and create high-quality products

Honing teamwork skills in order to effectively communicate in group situations

Pedagogical Goals: Space to Prepare Students for the 21st Century Workplace

“College graduates should learn to assess their own writing and find ways to correct problems that may exist. When college graduates are their own critics, they willingly correct problems and learn from their mistakes” (Jones et al., 1995, p. 75).

Communication as Collaboration and Immersion

“Advanced skills in both writing and speech communication require the development of reasoning skills” (Jones et al, 1995, p. 124).

Frontier Spaces

Barkley, E.F., Cross, K. P., & Major, C.H. (2005). Collaborative learning techniques: A handbook for college faculty. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Bolter, J.D., & Grusin, R. (1999). Remediation: Understanding new media. Cambridge: MIT.

Hennessey, Beth A. (2003). Is the social psychology of creativity really social? Moving beyond a focus on the individual. Paul B. Paulus and Bernard A. Nijstad (Eds.), Group creativity: Innovation through collaboration (pp. 181-201). Oxford: Oxford UP.

Jankowska, M., & Atlay, M. (2008). Use of creative space in enhancing students’

engagement. Innovations in education and teaching international, 45.3, 271-279.

Jones, E.A., Hoffman, S., Moore, L.M., Ratcliff, G., Tibbetts, S., Click, B.A.L., III, et al. (1995). National assessment of college student learning: Identifying college graduates’ essential skills in writing, speech and listening, and critical thinking (NCES No. 95-

001). Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics. (ERIC Document

Reproduction Service No. ED383255).

Milliken, F. J., Bartel, C., & Kurtzberg, T. R. Diversity and creativity in work groups: A dynamic perspective on the affective and cognitive processes that link diversity and performance. Paul B. Paulus and Bernard A. Nijstad (Eds.), Group creativity: Innovation through collaboration (pp. 32-62). Oxford: Oxford UP.

Ong, Walter. (2002). Orality and literacy: The technologizing of the world. New York: Routledge.

Potter, John. (2006). Carnival visions: Digital creativity in teacher education. Learning,

media, and technology, 31.1, 51-66.

Rorrer, R.A.L. (2003, August). Credentials for the job. Mechanical Engineering, 50.

Vygotsky, L.S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological

processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Further Reading

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