Re: Magic

["CRUEA, SUSAN" <scruea@ccgate.tiffin.edu>]

     Linda,
     
     You've drawn me out of my perpetual "lurking." Magic is exactly what 
     we create and what students have come to expect from us.  Last 
     Halloween we dressed up at our center, and I dressed up as the 
     "Writing Lab Fairy" because students often expect us to wave our magic 
     wands/pens and make everything "OK."  We have to remember, however, 
     that magic is just an illusion.  Even though they visit expecting US 
     to perform the magic, we have to "trick" them into doing the 
     performing; that's the real magic.  
     
     As to how to measure magic, you're right; it is difficult to measure.  
     I find myself agreeing with Kevin.  Just keep track of the rabbits 
     produced.
     
     Susan Cruea
     TULIP Center Director
     (Tiffin University Learning Improvement Program)  
     scruea@tiffin.edu

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Magic
Author:  wcenter@ttacs6.ttu.edu at ccgate
Date:    9/17/96 9:45 PM


I have a really embarrassing message.  Bear with me.  It's hard to get it 
out.
     
I have recently found that the most effective pr I do, for both students 
and faculty, is to say that visits to the Writing Center create magic.
     
The testimony of the lead faculty member in our basic writing course is 
typical.  When I added assessment of the WC as one of our assessment goals
in the first Freshman Comp Committee meetings, she said, "Why assess the Writing
Center?  Students go  there, they write better.  What else can we assess?" 
Sounds like magic to me.
     
Similar testimony comes from students.  "I hated my conferences.  They were 
awful.  Unfortunately, I had to go because my writing kept getting better."
     
My question:  How do we quantify magic?  
     
Clearly this "testifyin'" is not real assessment, and indeed poses a problem 
for assessment.
     
I still think I will feature TInkerbell (that's the appropriate level, isn't 
it?) in any promotion I do this semester.
     
I think I know where the magic origninates, but when I tell *outsiders* about 
WC theory and practice, their eyes glaze over.  So why not present it in terms 
of magic?
Linda Coblentz
UH-Downtown