Blog 3-Writing Center Philosophy

Based on class discussion, how I view knowledge is a combination of both what we know already, and what we are trying to learn/ being taught, because the information we are being taught, eventually becomes knowledge we know already...so it forms a cycle of some sort, but the two are definitely connected.

To me, it is important that the student and tutor, work together during each session. "Collaboration" so to speak. It is important that there is an understanding that the success of each tutoring session relies on the student and tutor building off of each other's energy and feedback. With both parties intearcting together, and staying engaged in accomplishing the task, the efficiency of each session increases.

The role of learner and tutor comes into play here, it gets tricky when the tutor doesn't necessarily hold all of the control in the session, because it is what we are so accustomed to from all the years we spend in the classroom setting. Teacher (in this case, tutor) centered tutoring

In order to make this the most effective, both parties must come to the session prepared to give feedback. The student must be engaged in improving a particular writing piece, and not leave all work to the tutor.They have to want to be there, otherwise efficiency goes down. The tutor must refrain from taking full control of the session. This means listening to what the student wants to do with their paper and not necessarily just pushing their ideas on the student, because of the
"authority" they hold.

Tutors will be trained to be sociable, welcoming and approaching. Not every student will willingly give feedback. Especially if they were forced to come to the session. Tutors will take time to make student feel comfortable and open to share their ideas. They must be patient, because not all students are the same, and will not all use the same strategies. Finally, it is important that tutors understand that we can only do so much to help the student...but we must do all we CAN. This is important to understand because not all sessions will leave the student bursting with new knowledge and renewed excitement to write, but that doesn't necessarily mean the tutor failed. If they feel they gave it the best of their abilility and learned knowledge useful to tutoring experience, then it was still a successful session.