tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post4238971876518913857..comments2024-03-27T08:11:29.257-06:00Comments on PeerCentered: Physical Space and Collaboration: Comparing the Two Locations of the Texas A&M University Writing CenterClint Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07671508034667904543noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post-76258071475343392932010-03-23T12:52:28.959-06:002010-03-23T12:52:28.959-06:00Rebecca, as new tutor, I appreciate this blog on P...Rebecca, as new tutor, I appreciate this blog on Physical Space and Collaboration, because it illustrates how imperative it is to have collabration when tutoring. I am working in a larger Writing Center with open tables, and through my training I have come to realize more and more that writing is a process. What I tell tutees (or students) is that writing is a process, and it is good to get peer advice. I also have recommended that they should schedule new appointments to receive other opinions from different tutors if they have time. Our Writing Center seems busy for a full collaborative effort; however, there is always a staff member, an English professor, available. This staff member usually is doing tutoring sessions as well. Nonetheless, if we are struggling, we are adviced bring the issue to a staff members attention.<br /><br />I find it interesting, and I feel that having a collaborative sessions can be rewarding for tutor and for most tutees. Your blog posting brings out the fact that tutee may doubt a tutor's advice when the tutor needs to step away. I agree that there is more of a consensus in a collaborative session, and may cut out a step where tutee will come back for another opinion. I think that is good to have this collaborative organization to help bounce off ideas from one another and give the sound feeling that tutors are essentionally the tutees peers. In that feeling of the tutors being more like peers, most tutees can feel more comfortable and perhaps rewarded from mulitple opinions coming together and focused on a paper, a thesis,or ideas.<br /><br />One the other hand, I would like to point out the student that may not feel comfortable with having more than one tutor at a time. Some people are more private and like to consult with one person. I find sometimes hard for a tutee to want to read their paper aloud. We also have resources such as reference books, handouts for grammatical errors, and computers which offer support when the tutor may be in doubt. These tools also back up the tutors claim, or show that it is alright to use resources. Alos, this can show how a tutor is a peer as well, and this is also another way of bouncing of ideas. <br /><br />Maybe, an ideal Writing Lab could consist of both and can be choice for the tutee. Eventhough we have an open room, we still have primarly one on one tutoring sessions. Maybe, offering both would beneficial for different personalities, since one the goals of the Writing Center is for the students to want to come back. We want them to feel as comfortable as possible. We want them to become better writers. <br /><br />I think your argument that we should offer more of a collaboration in tutoring should definitely be considered. I will think about this as continue tutoring in the Writing Center. Thank you for enlightening me with your experiece.Sharon Tresslernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790062.post-60752273026665944062010-03-19T12:10:53.951-06:002010-03-19T12:10:53.951-06:00Thank you Rebecca for your blog on writing center ...Thank you Rebecca for your blog on writing center spaces and collaboration. This is my first semester as a writing center tutor and I have found the experience far more rewarding than I had expected. Our writing center space, although larger, is similar to the open space you wrote of in your blog. We have no private tutoring spaces available and I think the open environment is beneficial to the writers and the tutors for several reasons. First, the act of exposing your writing, essentially exposing yourself, puts the writer in a very vulnerable position. To cloister the experience in a private room may exacerbate that feeling of vulnerability, whereas, a room where the writer is surrounded by other writers doing the same thing helps to diminish the fear and provide a less intimidating space. It may also help to validate the experience. Many students wouldn't use the writing center without their teachers requiring that they do so. If their initial tutoring session is helpful, and they are able to see how many other students use the writing center, they are more likely to return. The open environment is also comforting for the tutor. Being exposed to other sessions and the different styles and techniques other tutors employ, helps each individual tutor to learn and grow. And as you pointed out in your blog, being surrounded by other tutors provides the opportunity for collaboration. I had one tutoring session where I called on two other tutors to help with two separate issues and in the end the tutee expressed how grateful she was that her session was treated with such importance. Writing for anyone can be daunting. A writing center that is an open environment where many writers and tutors tackle the process together can be an effective tool in helping the tutees become more confident writers and more comfortable returning to the writing center.<br />Thank you again,<br />Mindymindyguilfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06273663972015739938noreply@blogger.com