Hello! My name is Julie, and I am one of the new Writing Center tutors for this fall. I am a senior here at OU-C, and am in the BSS program, majoring in Literature and Communications. I will graduate after Fall Quarter, and I plan on going on to grad school for Library Science. In the mean time, I am really looking forward to working here and helping my fellow students improve their processes for writing papers. I have helped Dr. Kasbekar with tutoring her students over the last couple of quarters and have thoroughly enjoyed it, so coming here to the Writing Center seems like a natural transition for me.
Today was the third day of orientation for the Writing tutors, but my first day. I missed the first two days of orientation because I was just hired yesterday afternoon. Today, we covered some interesting topics--dealing with biases, research methods (with Head Librarian Allan Pollchik), tips for engaging tutees, and the like.
Thanks to Debra Nichols for this opportunity, and thanks for all of the veteran Writing Tutors for welcoming me into the group. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you better!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Howdy!
Hey, all :)
Okay, so day 3 of training is behind us. I feel like I got a lot out of our sessions. While covering Caleb's shift today, I had a tutee come in, and I was able to remember some of the things we discussed--i.e., "Why?" I found myself focusing more on fleshing the paper out than on grammar, which I had been getting bad about. I would love a full-time job as an editor or proof-reader, but alas.
Ankle is throbbing. Can't wait to go home and prop my feet up, snuggle my kitties, then watch some Spock on Star Trek. :D
Okay, so day 3 of training is behind us. I feel like I got a lot out of our sessions. While covering Caleb's shift today, I had a tutee come in, and I was able to remember some of the things we discussed--i.e., "Why?" I found myself focusing more on fleshing the paper out than on grammar, which I had been getting bad about. I would love a full-time job as an editor or proof-reader, but alas.
Ankle is throbbing. Can't wait to go home and prop my feet up, snuggle my kitties, then watch some Spock on Star Trek. :D
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Day Two: Online Training & Best Practices
Was it just me, or was training today a ride on the Vortex?
Thankfully, Jenn Slone popped in and shared her vision in regards to the online tutoring she helped to create last Winter quarter. Although the piloting program wasn't, er, exactly successful, I guess we have identified some of the gut-plunges (to keep up with the roller-coaster metaphor). I do agree that our current route is simply too wordy in the instructions and potentially overwhelming for technologically-naive students--we may be back at the first rail, but we have more experience now to develop something more useful in the future . . .
I was so glad to have the sample papers from McClain's class--the explication of "Daddy" matched up very well with our student's "Snake" paper. I need to publicize more often how intellectually you folks approach your work--working with you on identifying "Best Practices" was a fantastic conversation. I especially liked Caleb's observation that we will be "doing less, just more intensely"--which is just what we need.
Finally, not to be the debbie-downer, but I wish we had not ended by twisting through the "corkscrew of imbalance" in regards to the writing/math challenges of balanced work n the Center . . . one thing to keep in mind, though, is that although we all tutor, we do have different approaches and philosophies to it. I'm sure we can learn from each other as we continue to work side-by-side this year.
So there! Here's our Blog for All today. Enjoy your evenings!
Thankfully, Jenn Slone popped in and shared her vision in regards to the online tutoring she helped to create last Winter quarter. Although the piloting program wasn't, er, exactly successful, I guess we have identified some of the gut-plunges (to keep up with the roller-coaster metaphor). I do agree that our current route is simply too wordy in the instructions and potentially overwhelming for technologically-naive students--we may be back at the first rail, but we have more experience now to develop something more useful in the future . . .
I was so glad to have the sample papers from McClain's class--the explication of "Daddy" matched up very well with our student's "Snake" paper. I need to publicize more often how intellectually you folks approach your work--working with you on identifying "Best Practices" was a fantastic conversation. I especially liked Caleb's observation that we will be "doing less, just more intensely"--which is just what we need.
Finally, not to be the debbie-downer, but I wish we had not ended by twisting through the "corkscrew of imbalance" in regards to the writing/math challenges of balanced work n the Center . . . one thing to keep in mind, though, is that although we all tutor, we do have different approaches and philosophies to it. I'm sure we can learn from each other as we continue to work side-by-side this year.
So there! Here's our Blog for All today. Enjoy your evenings!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Learning Center URL
Anyone have ideas for what a good url would be? "www.ouclearningcenter.com" or maybe "www.learnatouc.com" or something.
Anyway, here is the link to the template I chose for our prospective website.
Thoughts?
Anyway, here is the link to the template I chose for our prospective website.
Thoughts?
WC Training: Day One
I think today's training really got me in the mode to learn more about becoming a better tutor. I enjoyed the discussion and stories among the group. The article we reviewed today, written by William Macauley Jr., provided some great ways to mentally organize the path of a session as well as to bring focus to a student's assignment. Setting an agenda for a session also allows the tutor and tutee to get and remain on the same page. I plan on giving this strategy a shot by implementing it in future sessions.
In my opinion, today's training was successful. I was stimulated and thought critically about our work here as writing tutors. I look forward to the rest of our training.
In my opinion, today's training was successful. I was stimulated and thought critically about our work here as writing tutors. I look forward to the rest of our training.
Welcome to Fall Training and Orientation 2009
Welcome back! Fall presents such a terrific opportunity to begin a fresh and envision an exciting future.
Here at the Writing Center, we value your return, peer tutors, and your commitment to providing quality writing support, freely, to OU-C's students. The university is certainly lucky to have you on board!
As we wrap up the first day of our training, would you give us some of your thoughts on the up & coming Fall quarter? What are your hopes and/or concerns for the Center? What advice would you give to a freshman who might stumble across this page? And/or, more specifically, what did you find useful from, say, MaCauley's chapter on "Setting the Agenda" or Cristy Null's visit?
Here at the Writing Center, we value your return, peer tutors, and your commitment to providing quality writing support, freely, to OU-C's students. The university is certainly lucky to have you on board!
As we wrap up the first day of our training, would you give us some of your thoughts on the up & coming Fall quarter? What are your hopes and/or concerns for the Center? What advice would you give to a freshman who might stumble across this page? And/or, more specifically, what did you find useful from, say, MaCauley's chapter on "Setting the Agenda" or Cristy Null's visit?
Monday, August 17, 2009
Book Review: "A Beautiful Mind" by Sylvia Nasar
A Beautiful Mind
"A legend by the age of thirty, recognized as a mathematical genius even as he slipped into madness, John Nash emerged after decades of ghostlike existence to win a Nobel Prize and world acclaim." ~ from cover of book
Though not a good selection for someone looking for a quick and light read, A Beautiful Mind is an intense biography of John F. Nash, Jr., a mathematician who rubbed elbows with the likes of John von Neumann and Albert Einstein. His arrogance was outweighed by his eccentric genius, which eventually won him a Nobel Prize in economics.
Before this award, however, Nash slowly lost his grip with reality and, by his thirties, fell into full-blown schizophrenia.
I have no particular interest in the field of mathematics. Nevertheless, I found this biography fascinating and poignant despite its occasional slow parts. Perhaps because biographies/autobiographies deal with the lives of real people, I overlook the "slow parts" by simply remembering that I am a voyeur into someone's life. Now that I have read the book, I have added the movie starring Russell Crowe to the top of my Netflix queue :)
"A legend by the age of thirty, recognized as a mathematical genius even as he slipped into madness, John Nash emerged after decades of ghostlike existence to win a Nobel Prize and world acclaim." ~ from cover of book
Though not a good selection for someone looking for a quick and light read, A Beautiful Mind is an intense biography of John F. Nash, Jr., a mathematician who rubbed elbows with the likes of John von Neumann and Albert Einstein. His arrogance was outweighed by his eccentric genius, which eventually won him a Nobel Prize in economics.
Before this award, however, Nash slowly lost his grip with reality and, by his thirties, fell into full-blown schizophrenia.
I have no particular interest in the field of mathematics. Nevertheless, I found this biography fascinating and poignant despite its occasional slow parts. Perhaps because biographies/autobiographies deal with the lives of real people, I overlook the "slow parts" by simply remembering that I am a voyeur into someone's life. Now that I have read the book, I have added the movie starring Russell Crowe to the top of my Netflix queue :)
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