New spaces brighten, enhance Teaching Resources Center

New spaces brighten, enhance Teaching Resources Center

It's a new era at the Colonel Richard M. and Betty Debnam Hunt Teaching Resources Center.

Tyanna Watson, a junior birth through kindergarten teacher education major, realized that moments after walking into the center on the second floor of East Carolina University's Joyner Library.

"I love this setup," said Watson, who wants to teach kindergarten. "It's really easy to navigate. With the bookshelves, they made it look like a library in a regular elementary school. It feels more open and cozier for a teacher space."

Easy navigation was one of the main goals of the TRC staff when summer renovation and redesign plans began. Lower shelves were implemented for pre-K and young adult collections, and curriculum materials.

The instructional classroom was upgraded, along with new features such as a librarian/teacher collaboration lounge, educational technology studio, flex practice classroom and colorful story time corner to read to young children. An exhibition showcasing art by Pitt County Schools students decorates walls.

"The most frequent comment we hear is how much larger and brighter the space feels due to the lowering of our shelves," said Charlene Loope, head of the Teaching Resources Center. "The idea for the redesign is really rooted in the mission of the TRC to serve as a model resource center for teacher education programs on campus and for area educators. We considered how our current staff could build on the long tradition of serving as a model center, and enhancing the physical space emerged as the right next step for the TRC."

The facility hosted an open house celebration on Oct. 7. Attendance included representatives from the College of Education, including students and dean Dr. André Green, the Department of Human Development and Family Science in the College of Health and Human Performance, Pitt County Schools educators, ECU Advancement, and former and current ECU librarians and TRC employees.

Amelia White, district media specialist for Pitt County Schools, was impressed with the collaboration spaces.

"I especially love that the practice classroom addition includes a ViewSonic panel, since many teachers use these in their classrooms," said White, a three-time ECU graduate including two master's degrees (teaching, library science). "It gives preservice teachers valuable, hands-on experience with the same technology they will use in the field. The space is functional and inviting. My favorite area, though, is the technology studio with its impressive collection of robots. This will be an incredible resource for media coordinators, providing opportunities to learn how to integrate robotics into the curriculum and even check out materials to use with their students.

"Overall, the redesigned TRC opens up exciting possibilities for PCS educators and students alike, offering access to modern tools that support creativity, collaboration and hands-on learning. I can't wait for our PCS media team to visit the remodeled space again and explore all the resources available to educators through ECU."

The redesign was supported by Frances Mallison '77, a member of the ECU COE Educators Hall of Fame, and Langford endowment funds. New signs will be installed thanks to the Betty Debnam Hunt and Richard M. Hunt endowed fund.

Mallison's support for the librarian/teacher collaboration lounge is a prime example of how a specific area was transformed. Loope said it has "new life."

"It's a large, colorful lounge seating area with a great table for spreading out books and curriculum materials when we consult with both local teachers and preservice teachers," Loope said. "This space was previously underutilized, and we are so pleased that it has a new life and purpose. It is also very fitting that this space was made possible through a generous donation from Mrs. Frances Mallison, a former school librarian and constant champion of the powerful instructional partnerships offered by school library media specialists."

Faculty members in the College of Education host class sessions in the TRC instructional classroom, including in August on the first day of the semester. The Ann Rhem Schwarzmann Production Center was updated and features laminators, die-cuts, button makers and other tools available to all ECU faculty, staff and students, as well as area educators who have an educator library card.

TRC spacing benefited Watson and other students in Dr. Ruby Yeh's class for a coding project with kids from the ECU Nancy Darden Child Development Center. Learning through coding robot stations brought many smiles to the young children's faces and valuable, enjoyable experiential learning opportunities for ECU's students.

Adaline Wawrzyniak participated and is studying to be a preschool teacher.

"It's just nice to be at a school where there are so many resources for my major," Wawrzyniak said. "I feel like there is so much help and resources I can reach out to if I need it. It has made the experience very easy and welcoming."