My Literature Ladder!

Hey, guys! I just finished my literature ladder for my English 356 online course. I'm really proud of it and wanted to share. Have a peek if you feel like it!

http://redscarfgirlitladder.blogspot.com/

Winter Quarter Writing Contest

So, I know Deb is going to start asking us for ideas for this, so I decided to get a jump on it.

My thought is we should ask students to write about snow, seeing as it is Winter. Not just about what it looks like or what it is or something boring like that. Write about what snow is to them. How does snow make you feel, what emotions does it invoke, what does it remind you of? Does it take you back to where you grew up? Do you love it or hate it? Does a blanket of snow make you feel peaceful or does it look like the death of all the color of Autumn.

Write about what snow is to you personally.

Wrapping Up

As we approach finals, take a moment to reflect on your own tutoring practices from this quarter . . . what techniquies worked best? What could be done better?

[Remember, since this is a public space, be careful to protect the privacy of individual tutees.]

Back from Vegas!

Back from the conference and sitting at my desk catching up.

Of course there was just a ton of information and I am still sorting it out. I met some directors with the same challenges and concerns that we are facing, and we had a great exchange of ideas.

Perhaps the most useful workshop for me was the one on assessment. Wow. I don’t know where to start! I just want to make sure folks are envolved and happy with their tutoring positions here at the Writing Center.

I hope my own 16 hours a week here will be enough to implememnt some of the neat ideas I've brought back such as establishing some Writing Center Workshops, brown bag lunches, and/or tea & cookie series.

Where do we want to take the writing Center next quarter? How could we be of more use here on Campus? What workshops could we offer that would be useful? Ideas?

OLN Initiative: Learning Communities and the Writing Center

Last Friday, October 17th, I attended a kickoff for the Ohio University Chillicothe Technology-Rich Creative Writing Learning Community at Shawnee State University.

What we are looking at, specifically, is an OLN (Ohio Learning Network) partnership between the WC and Dr. Jan Schmittauer's online writing courses.

This partnership is an exciting opportunity to begin thinking of all the benefits and challenges of online tutoring.

So, let's begin the conversation here.

What experiences, if any, have you had with online tutoring? What benefits do you see coming from this partnership? What challenges might we need to be aware of and work to overcome? Perhaps some people will be more inclined to engage in online tutoring than others--these are all issues we will need to discuss.

I'd like some type of initial response to this post by Nov. 3rd.

Also, I'll be putting a brief reading, "Protocols and Process in Online Tutoring," in your mailboxes. Please have it read by the 3rd as well and feel free to use it in your response.

Cheers,
Debra

B.t.w. I did see Tim & Kelly! What a hoot--they weren't expecting to see me at all. They are doing great and promised to stop in soon.

Let us FUEL your creativity!

Women, Politics, and Other Fairytales

As a current OU-C student, you are invited to submit any work of fiction, 1200 words max, that addresses an aspect of the theme Women, Politics, and Other Fairytales. This contest is open to all sub-genres of fiction including, but not limited to, traditional prose, fables, fairytales, science-fiction, romance, action-adventure, horror, comedy, satire, and collage. The title of this contest is meant to be both provocative and open to interpretation.
Although we gladly accept and support traditional mediums such as short stories and poetry, we also encourage those students who may be inclined to experiment with contemporary mediums such as graphic design (limit of 36”x24”), short film (limit of 6 minutes, please include script), blog excerpts, online websites (please provide links), comics, and other forms. First Place and honorable mentions will be announced no later than the first week of Winter Quarter.

First Place: $75.oo Gas Card !

All submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 10, 2008, at the Learning Center in Stevenson.

Submissions are limited to two per student. Entry forms are available at the Writing Center where entries will be submitted in triplicate with cover sheet. Applicants will list ONLY PID#s, on every page, in either header or footer (all entries bearing names will be disqualified). Entries will be read by a panel from the OU-C English department and undergo a fair-minded selection process involving no fewer than three judges. Students are encouraged to use the Writing Center as a confidential resource for thoughtful feedback.

Banned Books Reading

I'd like to thank Squid and Tree for a terrific hosting of Banned Books! Your topic was well-chosen, and your analysis, fresh.

The presentation also went very well. Those who attended left informed and thoughtfully provoked.

Great Job!

"Let Us FUEL Your Creativity this Quarter"

Looks like we might be given the "go" in making a series of Writing Contests with a prize of a $75 gas card for first place.