Larner Learning Commons

The University of Vermont

The Larner Learning Commons is a new information hub that facilitates collaborative, technology-rich learning for students at UVM’s Larner College of Medicine.

Located within the medical school’s existing library, the commons replaced dated bookshelves and closed offices with open workspaces for group learning, two new quiet study areas, and multiple office suites. Fewer walls and better space planning increase total seating by 25 percent.

The library’s Information Technology team are front and center in the new space. IT staff are available to work one-on-one with faculty for training in new instructional techniques. Students can ask research questions and get guidance on the vast electronic resources available to them.

The Larner Learning Commons was specifically designed to encourage active learning approaches, such as Team Based Learning and Problem Based Learning. Research shows that students learn and perform better when they’re asked to engage and apply knowledge rather than sit passively and listen. UVM is the first medical school in the country to fully embrace the Active Learning model.