Writing Center/Library Collaboration for Student Achievement
by Julie Poole and Andrea StanfieldCOMO - October 17, 2008
Objectives
- Briefly report on previous developments in this area of study
- Discuss advantages/challenges of writing center/library collaborations
- Discuss how to measure outcomes quantitatively in terms of student retention, return of investment, student success
- Brainstorm best practices and ideas for an immediately usable collaboration format/workshop/etc. - Discuss possibilities for sharing past and current collaborations and outcomes
Previous Developments & Collaborations
Sharing Space• Allows opportunity for presence at one another’s meetings• Referrals are easier• Opportunity to share resources – handouts and computers• Sharing virtual space
Previous Developments & Collaborations (cont’d)
Sharing Space – Examples
Mount Union College Information & Literacy Center – Information Literacy Studio
University of Kansas – Writing Center Satellites
Eastern Michigan University – Academic Projects Center
Previous Developments & Collaborations (cont’d)
Cross-training
• Ensuring knowledge of purposes and goals of each department
• Creating consistency in services provided by and between
departments
• Tutor-training often focuses on interaction with students which may help with referrals
Previous Developments & Collaborations (cont’d)
Cross-training – Examples
Colorado College – Librarian trained as writing tutor works regularly in
writing center.
University of New Hampshire at Manchester –Effort to ensure peer tutors understood basics of
academic research and information literacy (White & Pobywajilo)
Georgia Perimeter College/Lawrenceville –Librarians and library staff attended Learning & Tutoring Center training
Previous Developments & Collaborations (cont’d)
Providing Joint Services
• Presenting collaborative workshops • Working in classrooms with writing lab staff, instructors, and
librarians
• Sharing handouts and making referrals
Previous Developments & Collaborations (cont’d)
Providing Joint Services - Examples
o University of Washington, Bothell - A decade of collaboration (Leadley & Rosenberg)
o Rutgers - Presenting research & writing as a "single,
interlocking process" (Tipton & Bender)
o University of Louisville - Librarians as instructional consultants (Yohannes & Johnson article)
Advantages of working together
Keeps Library & Writing Center Visible and Relevant
• Presents team-player image to administration• Increases collaboration with faculty for both departments• Increases status/stature of writing center and library professionals• Provides opportunity to share resources• Creates seamless delivery of services – “One Stop Shop”
Advantages of working together (cont’d)
Promotes Student Success & Retention• Similar pedagogy between units leads to more active learners • Similar pedagogy lends itself to working toward same goals• Gives librarians and writing tutors understanding of where their
pedagogy & goals crossover, making it easier to help students see the big picture and "seek meaning rather than the right answer" (Hook)
• Collaboration between departments creates a learning community for
students • Collaborative efforts can create ways to reach at-risk and non-
traditional students, which promotes student retention
Challenges of working together
• Inconsistencies w/technologies, missions, goals
• Loss of controloLibrariansoFacultyoWriting Tutors
• Time restraints and work load
Challenges of working together (cont'd)
• Geographical distance if not part of a
learning commons model • Space constraints• Lack of administrative support • Costs• If collaboration is not embedded as part of
both departments, the collaboration may be fleeting at best (Currie & Eodice)
Measuring Outcomes
• Grades / passing standardized writing tests
• In-class assessments such as the one minute
paper, muddiest point, etc. (Stewart)
• Improvement of grades/writing skills (must include faculty/course instructors in evaluative process)
• Sharing of assessment outcomes with students to
show them their own successes/failures
Brainstorming Session
• Have you collaborated with your writing center?• What assessment methods do you use to assess writing and
research skills?• What types of collaborations seem the most feasible?• What types of collaborations seem to be the most helpful for
students?• Sustainability - what efforts can be made to ensure continuation of
collaboration after key players move on?• Are there artificial academic boundaries created within institutions
(budgets, departments, other)? If so, how can they be removed or blurred? Are there any boundaries that are necessary to maintain?
• How can faculty be a part of this collaboration? Is it possible to collaborate effectively without faculty involvement?
• Is it better to implement these types of projects from the bottom up or from the top down?
Ongoing Project
Possibilities for sharing: Working Bibliography – add citations/links to it • Wiki, google pages, google groups, listserv, blog, facebook,
etc. • Which would you prefer??
Questions??
Anything else you would like to add or see us add to the presentation? Anything we missed?
Please contact us if you have any questions or comments.
THANK YOU FOR COMING!