Well, I tried!!
Here is the Twitter feed attempt:
In the end two sessions were held with teachers from elsewhere who could not make the same time and place. I have blogged about this here: http://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/msimkin/2014/09/14/testdrive-for-creative-coffee/.
The process was altered somewhat for the session held at school. This was an event advertised on the school wide learning management system which has bulletin boards in all areas, and by email and face to face invitations to teaching and administrative staff. Of the adult attendees most are not regular library users, and in one case, a participant had not been into the space for about 8 years.
I began with a reading from Imagine a Place by Sarah L Thomson, paintings by Rob Gonsalves.
The text selected reads:
imagine a place….
….where words shelter you,
ideas uphold you, and
thoughts lead you
to the secret
inside the labyrinth (pages 19 – 20)
This gave a broader framework for the conversations and brainstorming that followed than I had allowed for my other participants on the Friday. Conversations were broad and enthusiastic – and quite hard for the online attendees to hear. They used their time for a “chat room” discussion of their own – and from which I saw my space through other eyes! (Thanks so much for the input Deb and Liz) here is a record of their chat:
liz eckert
I’m finding it hard to hear what the students are saying I’m catching phrases here & there but not at lot
12:58 PM
Deborah
Me too. I did hear one of them mention a fountain!
Lost the sound
12:59 PM
liz eckert
The joys of trying out different tech.
1:00 PM
Deborah
Lovely to have a view into another school though
1:00 PM
liz eckert
definitely’
love the flags – full sized hanging in the library
1:00 PM
Deborah
We have someone taking Zumba outside – Mental Health week
1:01 PM
liz eckert
I asked my Yr 8 students this morning for ideas about what they would change about their classroom & got some interesting answers –
they want single desks (allows for re-arranging)
1:03 PM
Deborah
There’s a lot of natural light in your Library Margaret!
1:03 PM
liz eckert
*re-arranging; laptops &other devices; bigger classrooms (we are a loud group when we get going); they want to listen to music; able to go into the breakout spaces in the library more often; more comfortable furniture; make the classroom brighter; different colours on the wall
1:05 PM
Deborah
The feedback is teachers and students like our library, but think it can be too noisy.
1:07 PM
liz eckert
the bright colours on the wall idea that my students came up with this morning was one that I wanted to see if Margaret’s school would change as well. Thought it was rather an interesting idea
1:08 PM
Deborah
Margaret – were they drawing ideas or writing them?
Some common themes were largely space related and in terms of practicality not really feasible while others can probably be implemented immediately.
Not so feasible:
folio sized shelving
pet friendly
large work desks
On the new bucket list:
gold fish
student art/achievements work on display
student made book ends
plants
mural
On the “I wish” list
author/artist in residence
sumptuous furnishings
book lined
Short term wishes – some in train:
new blinds (over the summer?)
fresh paint/light colours
comfortable furniture
coffee machine
bean bags/floor cushions
colourful furniture
Already provided:
lap top lockers/charging
tablet trolley (but could do with more)
plants (relocate?)
book-related posters
Unlikely or further down the track:
new carpet
bigger desks
milkshake machine
A segment of the discussion on vimeo.
Given that the Twitter feed did not result in any other take up, the overall end result was enlightening and a great way to review our situation. The concept of examining a redesign of our library experience is looking good. The Creative Coffee enabled brainstorming by Tim Brown’s rules allowing participants and Library staff the opportunity to tell a new story (Brown, 2009 p138-139)
References:
Brown, T. (2009). Change by Design How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation. New York: Harper Collins.
I have visited the following blogs and posted a comment (and will possibly comment on more):
http://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/jdtchicago/2014/09/15/creative-coffee-morning/#comment-19 James Thomas
http://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/lisa/2014/09/14/creative-coffee-morning/#comment-23 Lisa Plenty
http://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/plee4/2014/09/13/creative-drinks-afternoon/ Patricia Lee
http://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/jesoods5/2014/09/13/task-5-coffee-chat/ Heather Jesuadian
http://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/yvette/2014/09/16/creative-morning-breakfast-theme-22-colour/#comment-13 Yvette Drager
Margaret Simkin 
Hi Margaret, I found it very interesting to read through the different discussions that you had online and at your meeting.
There are often interesting conversations that happen on Twitter. I find the 140 characters a real challenge sometimes. When you put out some feelers on Twitter it is often surprising who responds, who re-tweets or favourites.
The sharing of the poem seemed to be an effective conversation starter. I like that you attracted people to the Library that aren’t frequent visitors – the dynamics of people in work-spaces never ceases to be interesting.
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Margret – I enjoyed reading your conversations and I think your “Inventive Format” approach was a creative way to bridge the distance between participants. Maybe your ‘absent’ visitor might revisit within the next eight years – well done for attracting him/her this time! Opening with ‘Imagine a Place’ managed to focus my attention too…imagining a place!
Patricia
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it was good to be able to hear some of the discussions that your group had. We struggled to hear a lot through the online connection.
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Thanks Liz, the computer had to be tethered a bit far away from the action to give it Internet connectivity through LAN rather than wireless. I was glad you and Deborah were able to chat to each other – your comments also added new ideas and information.
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Hi Margaret
It was good to be part of this, even in a peripheral way. Canvassing imaginative ideas from the actual users is really valuable and facilitates a broad view of the potential in the spaces. I do love the pet-friendly concept. Maybe virtual pets?
We are going to get some students focus groups together and I plan to arm them with paper and crayons also! You never know…
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