PRIS GERDE introduced Jim Mullins, Dean of Purdue Libraries, whose topic was The Active Learning Center at Purdue.
He explained that it is an ecotone, the best of both worlds, that is being built right in the middle of the Purdue campus. To improve the success rate of students, learning by doing is replacing the “sage on the stage”. That means a different type of classroom space is required for active learning. Currently there are three classrooms in the Hicks Undergraduate Library designed for this purpose. After showing a video to demonstrate the different kinds of teaching, he explained that six of the college libraries at Purdue are being consolidated in one building. After tearing down the old power plant and ENAD, a new Active Learning Center will provide 169,000 square feet of learning and secure study space. This $79 million project will be completed in two years.
