Writing Center/Library Collaboration for Student Achievement by Julie Poole and Andrea Stanfield COMO - 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

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

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

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 University of Washington, Bothell - A decade of collaboration (Leadley & Rosenberg) Rutgers - Presenting research & writing as a "single, interlocking process" (Tipton & Bender) University of Louisville - Librarians as instructional consultants (Yohannes & Johnson article)

Providing Joint Services - Examples

University of Washington, Bothell - A decade of collaboration (Leadley & Rosenberg)

Rutgers - Presenting research & writing as a "single, interlocking process" (Tipton & Bender)

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”

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

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 control Librarians Faculty Writing Tutors Time restraints and work load

Inconsistencies w/technologies, missions, goals

Loss of control

Librarians

Faculty

Writing 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)

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

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?

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??

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!

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!