ACRL Arts » 2011 Virtual Discussion Forum Presentation » J.P. van Arnhem

Using QR Codes to Create a Self-Guided Exhibit QR Codes: What are they good for? The first of a series of activities related to QR codes and a community outreach project centered around a mandala constructed in the Addlestone Rotunda by artist Bryant Holsenbeck and a host of volunteers in fall 2010. Students enrolled in the learning community Critical Thinking: Catalyst for Success in Science and Math studied the history of the mandala, volunteered to help with its construction, attended the artist talk and wrote a research paper on some aspect of recycling and its benefits to local communities. The learning community enables incoming freshman considering majors in biological sciences and mathematics to engage in classes offering peer facilitation, supplemental instruction, active learning, problem solving and social activities. The Scavenger Hunt introduced students to QR codes, readers, and mobile applications, underscoring the idea of inquiry and life-long learning by linking various resources together to aid in discovery and access. Presented by: Jolanda-Pieta van Arnhem, MFA College of Charleston Libraries Email: vanarnhemj@cofc.edu Posters Intro QRCodes + Art=QRArts QR Code Scavenger Hunt Photo credits: Will Breard, Jared Seay & J.P. van Arnhem Poster Design: Marcello Garofalo, Jerry Spiller, J.P. van Arnhem http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpvanarnhem/sets/72157625075838631/show/ Exhibit Partners During the course of the semester students participated in collecting materials for the mandala construction, wrote reflection papers on the experience and researched the significance of community art projects and sustainability efforts for their final research project. Special Instruction sessions were also provided to the learning community students throughout the course of the semester in preparation for Holsenbeck's mini-residency at the College of Charleston. These sessions included instruction by Jolanda-Pieta van Arnhem on community art projects, art therapy, and the place of the mandala in Buddhist traditions. Reference Librarian Burton Callicott also provided sessions on campus and local sustainability and recycling efforts and library resources to aid students in researching their final projects, a written paper on engaging citizens and giving back to the community. Connections http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpvanarnhem/sets/72157625200187420/show/ http://libguides.library.cofc.edu/content.php?pid=142626&sid=1479163 Bryant Holsenbeck’s Bottle Cap Mandala was installed during her mini residency with students and community volunteers from Monday, Oct. 18 through Thursday, Oct. 22. Volunteers helped Holsenbeck set up a three-dimensional mandala, a geometric design symbolizing the universe on the floor of the Sanders Rotunda in the Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library. The mandala was made from recyclable materials such as mayonnaise jar lids, bread loaf ties, soda bottle caps, and Altoids tins. The installation was sponsored by College of Charleston’s Friends of the Library as part of the bluesphere: earth art expo “Going Green” year-long series. The series explores the practices, people, science and politics influencing the global green movement. In an effort to promote discourse and education throughout the Charleston community about sustainability, the Friends of the Library will present keynote speakers and panel discussions on emerging trends related to the green movement and whether this phenomenon is a fad or an enduring way of life. The Holsenbeck poster linked to the artist website at http://www.bryantholsenbeck.com/ This series of posters was designed by Jolanda-Pieta van Arnhem, Jerry Spiller and Marcello Garofalo, a graphic design student at the nearby Art Institute of Charleston, as part of a collaborative community art project focusing on active individual involvement with environmental concerns in Charleston, SC. The posters were used to help viewers interact with Bryant Holsenbeck's Mandala installation at the College of Charleston Addlestone Library during the month-long installation. Each poster contains a QR code linking to further environmental resources on participants' own websites, accessible by code reader apps on viewers' phones and mobile devices. Exhibit viewers were provided with assistance in downloading QR reader applications for their mobile devices at the Research and Information Desk. The instructions below also accompanied the exhibit to encourage viewer participation. While you are visiting the mandala exhibit, take a moment to read the QR Code (accessible by a code reader app on your phone) on each poster to find out more about sustainability efforts at the College of Charleston. Need a QR Code Reader? Visit the QR Code Research Guide to find one! All posters are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution, Noncommercial, Share Alike license. The Going Green poster linked to the College of Charleston Friends of the Library blog, which contains news and information about related events, at http://blogs.cofc.edu/friendsofthelibrary/ The Service Learning poster linked to the College of Charleston First Year Experience Program, of which the Critical Thinking course is a part, includes courses that enrich classroom instruction with volunteer activities in the local community. The First Year Experience website is at http://spinner.cofc.edu/fye/index.html The Sustainability poster linked to the College of Charleston Sustainability Efforts website. The Sustainability Committee seeks to institute the teaching, research, and practice of sustainability and to establish an institutional culture of sustainability -- the ability to meet current needs without degrading the natural systems and resources required to meet future needs. The Sustainability website is at http://sustainability.cofc.edu/ The Carbon Footprint poster linked to the Green Wiki entry on reducing your carbon footprint. This entry is located at http://green.wikia.com/wiki/Reduce_your_carbon_footprint The Trash Audit poster linked to Alliance for Planet Earth campus student organization promoting social awareness and responsibility through environmental sustainability. The group posted a video on their blog that documented the previous year's Trash Audit. Bottle caps collected during the audit were cleaned and donated to the mandala project. The Alliance for Planet Earth blog is located at http://cofcallianceforplanetearth.blogspot.com/ The video, Trash Audit 2009 - A Film for People by Matt Altman is available at http://blip.tv/file/4278955?utm_source=player_embedded Collaborative Partners Include: Burton Callicott, M.L.I.S, Reference Librarian, College of Charleston Libraries, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424 Anne Marie Cale, Coordinator, Friends of the Library, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424 Marcello Garofalo, Graphic Design Student, Art Institute of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29401 Jenny Fowler, Director of Development, Friends of the Library, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424 Caroline Hunt, Ph.D., Professor of English, Department of English, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424 Jared Seay, M.L.I.S., Reference Librarian, College of Charleston Libraries, College of Charleston, SC 29424 Jerry Spiller, M.S.I.S., Web Design and Interactive Media Faculty, Art Institute of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29401 Links: Using QR Codes in Education Research Guidehttp://libguides.library.cofc.edu/qrcodes Bryant Holsenbeck's website http://bryantholsenbeck.com/recyclelids.html College of Charleston’s Friends of the Library http://blogs.cofc.edu/fol bluesphere: earth art expo http://www.halsey.cofc.edu/bluesphere/