Writing, Searching, Thinking, LearningCross-Training Peer Research and

Writing Tutors to Maximize Student Success

LOEX 2014

Julia Glassman, UCLA LibraryChristine Holten, UCLA Undergraduate Writing Center

Doug Worsham, UCLA Library

What Do You Know about Your Writing Center?

What services do they offer? Who are the tutors? Who do they partner with? What opportunities do you see? What is their role vis-a-vis library services?

What Assumptions Do You Have about Your Writing Center?

How much do the tutors know about research? What kind of training do they receive?

Known● They’re awesome!● Written, visual, and oral● They’re new and in the library● Peer tutoring at undergrad and grad

level, support faculty● Highly trained● Satellite location in library

Assumed● More students use it than library● Super popular● Veer into research instruction● Underutilized● Writing help is remedial● Students need writing help even

without writing center

Powell Reference DeskFall 2012

Powell Reference DeskFall 2012

Powell Reference DeskFall 2012

Writing Center & Reference DeskFall 2012

Writing Center in Powell!Winter 2013

The Training ProgramPhase one:

Train writing tutors in research methods

Training for Writing Tutors● Open satellite writing center at the

library● Train cohort of 6 writing tutors to

provide research assistance● Total training time: 6-7 hours

Our Assumptions (a partial list)● Writing tutors are research experts.

This will all be review to them.● They know exactly how Google works.● They use LibGuides regularly.● If I move too slowly, they’ll be insulted.

Location,Location, Location

Research questions happen in the library, right?

Location,Location, Location

Research questions happen EVERYWHERE!

(Bonus: viral training!)

Writing Tutor Training● Revised approach: the “seeding”

method● Train ALL writing tutors in research

skills● Trade off: more tutors trained, less

training each● Total training time: 3-4 hours

Reflection: How can the library help?● What value can librarians add to your campus

writing center? How can librarians help with the student writing process?

● If you were to train writing tutors in the research process, what learning outcomes would you set? What topics would you cover?

● What are some possible next steps for collaboration with the writing center on your campus?

Reflection: How can the library help?

● Learning outcomes:o locate course and subject guideso find subject librarian for any subjecto develop a keyword searcho refer well across various library serviceso communicate library services based on student needs

● Visit the writing center!● Think about the integration of the research & writing process● Questions:

o Process vs product?

Writing Center:Secrets of Success?

Writing CenterSecrets of Success

● Peer-to-peer learning● Space designed for

conversation● Drop-in + Scheduled

consultations● Active marketing● Exceptionally well trained

student staff!● High value service

InqSpaceSummer 2013

InqSpace: Research ConsultationsService “Soft-Launch” Fall 2013

Training InqSpecs in Composition Tutoring● Don’t address every problem in a

paper● Writing is a skill and is, thus, best

learned incrementally● Writers can only focus on one or two

issues at a time● Shorter, focused consultations

accomplish both of these goals

InqSpec Training: Comp. Basics

● Understanding & Meeting Assignment Expectations

● Thesis Statements● Essay Structure/Organization● Use of and Incorporation of Sources● Grammar

Composition Consultation Decision Process

Results so far...

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Conversations about Research+Writing > 10 mins.

Questions?

Assessment: Writing Tutor Responses

How helpful did you find the training? How often do you help students with research?

Assessment: Writing Tutor Responses