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Re: Computers
We use a macro in Excel (on a Mac) to keep our records. At first, we had
only two options: tutoring or computers use. But when I realized we were
missing those people who did both activities, we changed our program. We
now have an option labeled "Both."
Though the computers are a tremendous amount of work and have added
stress, they have built a sense of community in our Center. Students who
wouldn't be caught dead in a Writing Center, will come in and type their
documents, and ask questions.
I still like the story I told at a conference once, that the sense of
community and collaboration were driven home to me when I called out to a
tutor to ask a question someone had called in on the telephone. I
couldn't remember the answer and thought she would know. Five or six
people working at computers turned around and offered their suggestions.
We discussed the options briefly and gave the caller the right answer (as
well as three of the people listening). It was a wonderful experience.
They were all so eager to help and, what got me most, RELAXED enough to
volunteer their opinions.
Denise
In response to Liz Buckley's comment:
>I think
>that sometimes we don't count the help that students logged in as computer
>users get. For stat's sake, I've toyed with the idea of dropping the
>computer category in my stats and just counting students as writing across
>the curriculum or English referrals etc., but since I keep stats mainly for
>administration and they don't seem to care about anything but hardware, the
>soaring computer figures help me get "new stuff."
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Denise A. Pani
enpani@alpha.nlu.edu
Instructor and Director, The Writing Center 318-342-1497
English Department fax: 318-342-1491
Northeast Louisiana University
Monroe, LA 71209
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