Virtual Learning Commons!

In my quest to find good examples of virtual learning commons in practice, I found the HCOS Learning Commons at this link: https://hcslearningcommons.org/. One good feature of this learning commons is its simple scroll-down navigation, used to explore the commons' interactive features, community activities, and opportunities to use the organization's reading resources. It also has a hub to find upcoming events and simple instructions on how a user can sign up for a collaborative portal, Sora/OverDrive.

I also found Minnesota Learning Commons, a simple website that has links to webinars, a group mailing list, special interest groups, and events put on by organizations partnering with MnLC. One can find their website at this link here: https://sites.google.com/sourcewelltech.org/minnesotalearningcommons/home. What I appreciate particularly about this website is its lack of popups and animations. While these features may be fun and useful in some respects, they can get in the way of the webpage's content and reduce accessibility for users.

The last virtual learning commons I found was Larkspur Learning commons, which one can access at this link here: https://sites.google.com/pdsb.net/larkspurvllc/inquiry-research?authuser=0. This website is great because it is similarly accessible like MnLC, but it has more resources by which to connect with others, learning about technology, makerspaces, and summer events hosted near Larkspur Public Schools. I also appreciate that it has a tab entitled "For the Adults," which includes more stakeholders beyond just students. 

Overall, I found it quite difficult to find virtual learning commons online. This may point to the fact that there are, in fact, not many virtual learning commons and this is an area of opportunity which can be utilized more productively. I believe it would benefit many schools and other educational organizations to utilize virtual learning commons because they can increase accessibility, inquiry, and interaction!