cooks in the kitchen: promoting writing center research through collaboration

Promoting Writing Center Research through CollaborationA presentation by Bryce Hantla (bhantla@sebts.edu)

for The North Carolina Writing Center Network Conference

Greensboro, NC

November 16th, 2012

COOKS IN THE KITCHEN

A LESSON FROM NATURE

Boxer Crab (Lybia edmondsoni) Sea Anemoni (Triactis producta)

MUTUALISTIC SYMBIOSIS IN THE UNIVERSITY

Faculty

Administration (IE Staff)

Writing Center Staff

Students

MUTUALISTIC SYMBIOSIS IN THE UNIVERSITY

University

Faculty

Administration (IE Staff)

Writing Center Staff

Students

INSTITUTIONAL-LEVEL INVOLVEMENT

Getting to know the mind of your effectiveness administrator

• Action Research:

• Content Analysis:

• Survey Research:

• Phenomenological Research:

• Experimental Research:

HOW CAN WCS FACILITATE IE RESEARCH?

THE PAYOFF

• Recognition: WCs become more widely recognized as a rich source of qualitative and quantitative data.

• Funding: Leverage for more funding once IE staff recognize the potential data-gathering that may take place in WCs

• Resources: More funding might mean better resources or more personnel in the WC itself, depending on your needs/projected needs

• Alignment: Better institutional alignment due to more constituencies being involved on an institutional level

• What other benefits might WCs receive from this partnership?

"Your planet is very beautiful," [said the little prince]. "Has it any oceans?"

"I couldn't tell you," said the geographer . . . .

"But you are a geographer!"

"Exactly," the geographer said. "But I am not an explorer. I haven't a single explorer on my planet. It is not the geographer who goes out to count the towns, the rivers, the mountains, the seas, the oceans, and the deserts. The geographer is much too important to go loafing about. He does not leave his desk."

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (The Little Prince, pp. 63-64)

FACULTY

Illustration from The Little Prince

IN WHAT WAYS CAN WCS FACILITATE INTER-DISCIPLINARY DIALOGUE?

STUDENTS

HOW ELSE DO YOU SEE INTER-DISCIPLINARY DIALOGUE AS BEING BENEFICIAL FOR

STUDENTS?

1. Who do you want to work with?

2. Define the problem early and often

3. Understand the sociology of different epistemological frameworks

4. Communicate openly about strengths and weaknesses

5. Approach others with humility

PARTING THOUGHTS