Ms Zivanovic, Literacy and Innovation Teacher
The Junior School library has undergone a huge transformation this year, made possible by our new Literacy and Innovation Teacher, Mrs Natasha Zivanovic. We spoke to Natasha to find out about the vision behind the design and how the space has been received by students.
Ms Zivanovic, Literacy and Innovation Teacher
What’s your vision for the Learning Hub and how it should be used?
The vision was to make this a flexible, fluid and user-friendly space for the boys. A library isn’t about silently reading anymore, it’s about catering to a new generation of learners. I see it more now as a meeting ground for our students where they can collaborate and develop relationships as well as social skills. It must be working because the Learning Hub is full every lunchtime! This is a space not just for formal library lessons, but it a hub for all learning – the new centre of our school.
The brand new learning hub
Why did you select this furniture?
The aim of our new design was to create an environment that caters to different styles of learning. We wanted furniture that was flexible, so it could be used by different students in different ways. I feel that it’s very student-directed in here; the boys are making choices based on where they think they will learn best and that gives them ownership of their learning. We selected furniture that facilitates all types of learning and is able to be moved into different configurations based on need. There are a variety of desk heights and shapes, and an array of seating options. The new furniture has opened up the space, making it a bright and welcoming environment.
What feedback have you had from students so far?
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Our students are constantly coming up with ways of using the furniture that I hadn’t ever imagined. They are regularly experimenting with the different styles of seating on offer. I think we all feel that this is a fresh start – they’ve been very open to the changes. The furniture only arrived a few weeks ago, but it’s already had a huge impact on their engagement. They really want to spend their time here. I think we’re all excited to see what we can do with this space in the future.
We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation who are the traditional Custodians of the land on which Waverley College is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, seas and sky and their rich contribution to society.
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