The Commons

The Commons is a space for interprofessional development, discussion, and innovation. A broad community of librarians, instructional designers, teaching experts, and technology leaders can connect here in support of educational goals. 

About the Commons

We invite you to think about The Commons as a space to activate your creative and innovative ideas.

U of M faculty, staff, and students can use the Commons to

  • explore new technologies,
  • practice active learning and other educational teaching techniques,
  • create course content, 
  • engage in interdisciplinary conversation and collaboration, 
  • attend workshops to support teaching and learning across the health sciences disciplines, and
  • build partnerships and work together in an interprofessional space.

The Commons, located in Phillips-Wangensteen Building — Room 5-150, is open during scheduled workshops and events. Consultations are available by request. 

Request the commons

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Space and technology

Active learning classroom

  • Seats: 24 total. 4 active learning pods with 6 seats at each.
  • Set-up includes an instructor podium, computer and Crestron panel that lets instructor change display screens to one of four pods

1:Button Studio

  • Seats: 1-2
  • High-quality video production at the touch of a button

Conference room

  • Seats: 16
  • Room can be a Zoom room and has access to a kitchenette for catering

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Upcoming workshops in the Commons

No workshops are scheduled.

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Recent news in the Commons

An instructor podium with a keyboard and monitor that is displaying the 'M' logo for the University of Minnesota is in the foreground. In the background there are computer monitors mounted on an orange wall with a table and chairs.

Activate active learning in the Health Sciences Library Commons

The Commons is a gathering place located in the Health Sciences Library for interprofessional development, discussion, and innovation. It connects a broad community of librarians, instructional designers, teaching experts, and technology leaders in support of educational goals.

Heidelberg students examine rare books in the Wangensteen Historical Library.

Libraries key role in international dentistry exchange

Hospitality to visitors from afar may include a gift bag of treats. For German students of dentistry from Heidelberg University, those treats included an introduction to the jaw-dropping high-tech in the Health Sciences Library and the history-rich learning environments in the Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine.

Photo of gene segment models.

3D-printed gene segment models aid in active learning 

Michelle Henry-Stanley, PhD, had been looking for a better way to teach the complex topic of genetic recombination using a tactile, hands-on educational tool. She and her co-instructor Donna Spannaus-Martin, PhD, connected with our Makerspace to produce low-cost sets of 3D immunoglobulin gene segments to support new ways of teaching and learning and meet their active learning goals.

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Related staff

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