Re: email-tutoring

["Meg Larson" <mgl@tardis.svsu.edu>]

We're thinking about starting an OWL here at SVSU.  Other than one very
resistant writing mentor, most of us think it's a good idea.  My question,
to those who have OWL'S, is how does the online help affect the onsite
visits?  In other words, does the OWL reduce/modify the number of students
who come in for f2f sessions?  Obviously, there are those students who do
not seek our particular expertise because they just don't have time to
visit the WC, but I wonder if this will be seen as just another
"convenience" and thereby become nothing more than a "drive-in" grammar
garage (ok, I'm overstating things a bit).  My concern with starting an OWL
is that "I" may become obsolete, at least in the wc context.  

Are my fears unfounded, or am I just pessimistic?

"Too many textbooks and discussions leave students free to make up their
minds about things"
                                  --- Mel Gabler, Texas textbook critic 

Meg Larson
Saginaw Valley State University
mgl@tardis.svsu.edu              

----------
> From: David J. Coogan <coogan@charlie.cns.iit.edu>
> To: Multiple recipients of list <wcenter@ttacs6.ttu.edu>
> Subject: Re: email-tutoring
> Date: Monday, March 03, 1997 1:11 PM
> 
> 
> 
> On Mon, 3 Mar 1997, Sara Kimball wrote:
> 
> > I wouldn't want to rush into situations
> > where we'd lose the best of the old ways or find myself enacting the
worst
> > of the old ways but with computers.  All those questions about "fixing"
> > grammar that come to OWLs bother me, just as the questions we often get
on
> > our "grammar hotline" bother me, because we're put in the position of
> > providing simple answers to complicated questions, and because often
> > enough we're being asked to settle bets or confirm people's linguistic
> > prejudices. Doing this over the Internet doesn't exactly quiet my
> > professional doubts.
> 
> --> My feeling here, Sara, is that if those grammar hotlines and websites
> bother you, don't do them.  In fact, though I have nothing against the
> general premise that some people will find some online grammar info
useful
> or interesting, I do have a problem with OWLs that become, essentially,
an
> online handbook.  I mean, why should we invite that kind of
> association between functionalism and the writing center?  What do we
> have to gain?  As you noted in your last post, the
> best part about the internet is that it fosters an *exchange* of ideas.
> What I see in most OWLS is a dissemination of information.  That's a
> completely different thing.  
> 
> Dave
>