UBC’s Emerging Media Lab (EML) has a new hub, right in the heart of campus. Established in 2016 as an experimental space where faculty, students, and staff from all disciplines could collaborate with industry and community, the lab made its mission to evolve learning by creating tools and techniques using emerging media including Augmented, Mixed, and Virtual Reality.

Now, in its newest location in Room 183 on Level 1 of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, the lab is hopeful that the new space will attract a larger and even more diverse group of users and continue to be a truly interdisciplinary space.

 

An emerging media lab for everyone.

“The Library has this sense of belonging to everyone, a sense of inclusivity,” says Saeed Dyanatkar, executive Producer at the Emerging Media Lab, “If you have a Library card, it doesn’t matter which department you’re from, you can use it. This is how we want people to feel about the EML — it is a huge step forward for us.”

The implementation of an Emerging Media Lab is a natural fit for UBC Library. Julie Mitchell, Assistant Director, Student Engagement, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre explains, “Challenging traditional views of libraries as repositories for the printed book, leading academic libraries are at the forefront of providing technology-enabled spaces to support learning and research. The EML@IKBLC project was a priority for the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre as it creates space for interdisciplinary interactions and provides tools to explore new technologies, with the potential to transform education and research practices at UBC.”

 

At the heart of what drives innovation at the EML is the opportunity to experiment and the permission to fail, with more emphasis on learning and process than output. As Faculty in Residence, Dr. Matthew Yedlin describes it, “Failure is a learning experience. Here at the EML, we don’t want to have the perfect anything. You have to fail to be creative.”

The new IKBLC location, composed of two rooms: a public multi-station lab and presentation space and second room that can be used as a meeting room, demonstration space or development area was made possible through a collaboration between the EML, UBC Library, and the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology. The Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (TLEF) provided funding to assist in the purchase of equipment for the lab. The equipment is maintained by UBC IT.

The new lab in IKBLC will function as the EML’s public-facing space, welcoming questions from 9 to 5 on weekdays, offering lab time for classes and faculty members as well as regularly designated demonstration time. In addition to student employees, the space will also be staffed by some of CTLT’s student Learning Technology Rovers. The original Emerging Media Lab, located in the Neville Scarfe Building will remain, but will be used solely for development work and student projects.

 

A place to challenge assumptions.

Samantha Peng, graduate student in Journalism and student employee at the EML is particularly interested in how the new location might help challenge assumptions about who can benefit and learn from emerging technology. “Because I don’t have a coding background, I was really intimidated about getting started at EML,” she explains, “But once I started, I realized that projects require many different people with many different skill sets. I think this new location might help counteract the idea that the lab is only for Computer Science students.”

Fifth-year Electrical Engineering student and EML volunteer Serena Chao identifies this unique interdisciplinary experience as one of the features of the EML that has contributed to her learning. “My learning in my degree is mostly hardware-based and so the software-based work I do at the EML has helped me get a more well-rounded perspective. But it’s being able to work and collaborate with people in different faculties that I value the most; it has allowed me opportunities to collaborate over and above what is offered through my program.”

William Beltran, third year Cognitive Systems student and student employee at the EML looks forward to fielding more questions and queries from fellow students. “The great thing about this new space is that it allows for more people to pop in and ask questions. We’re more accessible.”

Visit the EML’s new location and explore in-progress and recently completed projects at an upcoming showcase on March 26.

As we head into final exams, the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre will stay open longer to accommodate students and their study schedules. The Learning Centre will be open 24 hours a day from Sunday, December 2 (opening at 6 a.m.) to Tuesday, December 18 (closing at 1 a.m.). Please note that this opening DOES NOT include: Level 1 (the lower level), the Chapman Learning Commons, Music, Art and Architecture Library or Ike’s Cafe.

Maya textiles reflect the ancestral wisdom embodied in the iconographic symbolism of its brocades that has been transmitted from generation to generation. For over a millennium, Maya women have been weaving their stories and brocade their textile legacy, continuing with the ancient tradition. They adapted their traditional style to new times, and this exhibit shows the evolving Maya fashion, techniques and materials over the past 30 years, highlighting the continuity of the symbolism and iconography.

This textile collection presents a small snap-shot of the changes, modes, continuity, and legacy of the diverse indigenous communities of Chiapas. Expert hands recorded their knowledge and incorporate their views of the world, adapting and using the materials they make a strong statement about their own culture – standing up for the present and the future.

We appreciate the support of the Cosulado General de Mexico in Vancouver and the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre.

EscaparArte Chiapas A.C / Xanvil A.C.

This exhibit will be on display in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre’s foyer from November 9th, 2018 to December 18th, 2018.

Join us in looking back at the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre's past 10 years from August 27 through October 30, 2018 in the IKBLC Level 2 foyer and in Rare Books and Special Collections.

Once Upon a Pop-up is on display on level 1 (RBSC reading room) and level 2 (main foyer) of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre from April 11 through May 31, 2018.

The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre will be open 24 hours a day from Monday, April 9 to Wednesday, April 25.

The 2018/19  Learning Initiatives for Rural and Northern BC (LIRN BC) call for community submissions is now open.

The deadline is Friday, February 23, 2018.

 

Early and different this year

We are seeking more “organic” community-focused requests, without imposing a pre-determined list of available workshops.

Learning Initiatives for Rural and Northern BC (LIRN BC) is a collaborative approach to building on the capacities of rural, remote and Northern British Columbian communities. LIRN BC is listed as a project of the BC Rural Network, established in 2004.

The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre is proud to partner through LIRN BC with government and non-government organizations to provide and facilitate workshops to promote community learning and collaboration in rural and northern communities.

LIRN BC can bring trainers and facilitators to your community to deliver a learning event for residents.

The annual call for “Expressions of Interest” (EOI) occurs each year.  In 2018 the timing and structure of asking for applications has changed.

 

In responding to the call for EOIs, applicants are asked to tell us about your community and its challenges, and identify workshop topics that will help your community move forward. If your agency is selected, you will be contacted by a LIRN BC partner who will work with you to design and deliver a learning event that meets the needs of your community. Successful applicants would be expected to provide publicity support, venue and refreshments.

Click here to download the 2018 Expressions of Interest document.

The current LIRN BC partners are:

• Association of Neighbourhood Houses BC (ANHBC)
• BC Healthy Communities (PlanH Program)
• UBC Library, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre
• Leave Out Violence (LOVE) Society of BC
• PeerNetBC
• Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC)
• Vantage Point
• Volunteer BC
• YouthCo

For further information please contact Sarah Huebert  (shuebert@sparc.bc.ca) at the Social Planning and Research Council of BC.

 

The 2018/19  Learning Initiatives for Rural and Northern BC (LIRN BC) call for community submissions is now open.

The deadline is Friday, February 23, 2018.

 

Early and different this year

We are seeking more “organic” community-focused requests, without imposing a pre-determined list of available workshops.

Learning Initiatives for Rural and Northern BC (LIRN BC) is a collaborative approach to building on the capacities of rural, remote and Northern British Columbian communities. LIRN BC is listed as a project of the BC Rural Network, established in 2004.

The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre is proud to partner through LIRN BC with government and non-government organizations to provide and facilitate workshops to promote community learning and collaboration in rural and northern communities.

LIRN BC can bring trainers and facilitators to your community to deliver a learning event for residents.

The annual call for “Expressions of Interest” (EOI) occurs each year.  In 2018 the timing and structure of asking for applications has changed.

 

In responding to the call for EOIs, applicants are asked to tell us about your community and its challenges, and identify workshop topics that will help your community move forward. If your agency is selected, you will be contacted by a LIRN BC partner who will work with you to design and deliver a learning event that meets the needs of your community. Successful applicants would be expected to provide publicity support, venue and refreshments.

Click here to download the 2018 Expressions of Interest document.

The current LIRN BC partners are:

• Association of Neighbourhood Houses BC (ANHBC)
• BC Healthy Communities (PlanH Program)
• UBC Library, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre
• Leave Out Violence (LOVE) Society of BC
• PeerNetBC
• Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC)
• Vantage Point
• Volunteer BC
• YouthCo

For further information please contact Sarah Huebert  (shuebert@sparc.bc.ca) at the Social Planning and Research Council of BC.

 

The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre's 24/7 hours begin Sunday, December 3 (opening at 6 a.m.) and end Tuesday, December 19 (closing at 1 a.m.).