Online Writing Centers Association

Consultations for Conference Presenters
2021-09-06 - 2021-09-10
The OWCA welcomes our conference presenters to schedule an online writing consultation for their 2021 OWCA conference materials. Presenters can schedule a consultation to:

Brainstorm ideas
Receive feedback on the content of their presentation
Get help understanding or meeting the accessibility requirements
Practice their presentation
Get help with recording their asynchronous presentation
Ask questions

OWCA Webinar | Introduction to Digital Accessibility Principles
2021-08-10 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
Event Details

Date: August 10, 2021, 3-4:30pm EST
Presenter: J. M. Dembsey
Title: “Introduction to Digital Accessibility Principles”
Hosting Organization: Online Writing Centers Association

Download Presentation Materials

Slidedeck – Intro to Digital Accessibility Principles (PPT)
Transcript – Intro to Digital Accessibility Principles (Word)
Exercises 1-5 Worksheet (Word)
Exercise 6 – Example Inaccessible Document (Word)
Exercises 1-5 (answer key) (Word)
Exercise 6 (answer key) (Word)

Event Description
In this webinar, attendees will learn how to apply basic digital accessibility principles, including headings, bulleted and numbered lists, descriptive hyperlinks, alternative text, and image descriptions. Examples will be provided, and attendees will have an opportunity to practice discussing and applying these principles in Microsoft Word. This workshop is intended both to assist presenters in creating accessible presentation materials for the upcoming OWCA conference and to inform the larger writing center community of accessibility principles they can apply in everyday digital contexts.
Related Works by the Presenter

“Naming Ableism” by J. M. Dembsey
“Writing Center Administrator Guidance in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Progression of a Position Statement” by Marilee Brooks-Gillies, Lisa Bell, J. M. Dembsey, & Duane Theobald

ASL Interpreting and Recording
American Sign Language interpretation will be provided. This webinar will be recorded. Please see our participation guidelines.
Support the OWCA
This event is offered for free to the writing center community. If you can, become an OWCA member or donate to the OWCA so we can continue to hire ASL interpreters and make our events accessible

Writing Consultations for OWCA Conference Proposals
2021-04-19 00:00 - 2021-04-23 12:00
The OWCA welcomes you to schedule an online writing consultation to receive feedback on your 2021 OWCA conference proposal. OWCA members and non-members are both welcome to participate at any point in the process, whether you are just brainstorming ideas or already have a draft of your proposal.

Deadline for Executive Board Applications
2020-11-06
OWCA members can apply to serve on the Executive Board. We have the following openings:

1 Conference Organizer
3 At-Large Representatives
2 Student Representatives

The deadline for applications is November 6, 2020. We will contact applicants by November 20, 2020.
Learn more about the openings and how to apply>>

OWCA SIG | Meet the Executive Board
2020-10-29 17:15 - 18:00
Event Details

Date: October 29, 2020, 5:15-6:00pm EST
Presenters: Jenelle Dembsey, Sarah Prince, and Elle Tyson (OWCA Executive Board)
Event: Listen. Learn. Lead.: An online event hosted by the International Writing Centers Association (IWCA)

Event Description
This special interest group (SIG) will introduce the new Online Writing Centers Association, including (a) the association’s mission and 2021 goals, (b) opportunities for membership, and (c) options for committee work, board positions, and other ways to get involved. Attendees can meet the OWCA Executive Board and share ideas for resources and support.
Register
Please register for this free event through the International Writing Center Association’s (IWCA) membership website. You do not need to be an active IWCA member to attend.
Zoom Information
You can enter the OWCA SIG through the Zoom information below:
Join Zoom Meeting:

https://zoom.us/j/95508387027
Meeting ID: 955 0838 7027

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Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aqcqVoRK8

OWCA Webinar | Enacting Antiracism in Asynchronous Writing Consultations
2020-10-26 15:00 - 16:30
Event Details

Date: October 26, 2020, 3-4:30pm EST
Presenter: Eric Camarillo
Title: “Enacting Antiracism in Asynchronous Writing Consultations”
Hosting Organization: Online Writing Centers Association

Event Description
The goal of this presentation is to reframe the value of asynchronous writing center work and to demonstrate why it should be seen as an innovation rather than a disruption, a valid option for students, rather than a subpar alternative. In particular, this presentation aims to be generative for writing center practitioners hoping to incorporate antiracist practices into their centers.
Related Works by the Presenter

Cultivating Antiracism in Asynchronous Sessions by Eric Camarillo
Dismantling Neutrality: Cultivating Antiracist Writing Center Ecologies by Eric Camarillo

ASL Interpreting and Recording
American Sign Language interpretation will be provided. This webinar will be recorded. Please see our participation guidelines.
Donate Through PayPal
This event is offered for free to the writing center community. If you can, please donate through PayPal so we can continue to hire ASL interpreters and make our events accessible. Any amount helps!

OWCC Webinar | Racial Justice and Online Writing Center Praxis
2020-10-02 16:00 - 17:30
Event Details

Date: October 2, 2020, 4-5:30pm EST
Presenter: Zandra L. Jordan
Title: “Racial Justice and Online Writing Center Praxis”
Hosting Organization: Online Writing Centers Community

Event Description
In this webinar, participants will explore the ways our commitments to antiracism and racial justice can translate into online writing center praxis. Zandra will share ways that her identity informs her ethics and invite participants to explore their own values and the commitments that shape the identities of their writing centers. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to promoting racial justice through writing center practice, the webinar will stress that by examining our shared commitments and values, we can think through our individual contexts and determine strategies for action.
The first step is to develop a clear ethic: we need to recognize and account for race in our writing center work and then question what a justice-oriented approach should look like. This is particularly important in our current moment when so many writing centers have shifted to online delivery and the nation is reeling from ongoing racialized violence and persistent systemic racism. The webinar will therefore recommend strategies for ensuring that our practices and engagement with writers through the online medium are promoting racial justice.
Webinar participants will:

Inquire about their ethics and values around antiracism and racial justice
Recognize that neither asynchronous nor synchronous online writing center interactions are neutral
Reflect on how attitudes around race and difference are encoded into the language we use when giving verbal and written feedback
Acknowledge the unique challenges with and opportunities for racial justice in an online writing center
Tailor an ethic of racial justice to their particular contexts

ASL Interpreting and Recording
American Sign Language interpretation will be provided. This webinar will be recorded and posted in our Events Archive. Please see our participation guidelines.

OWCC Webinar | Shaping Online Tutoring Practice: Research and Reflection over Replication
2020-09-08 13:00 - 14:00
Event Details

Date: September 8, 2020, 1-2pm EST
Presenter: Lisa Eastmond Bell
Title: “Shaping Online Tutoring Practice: Research and Reflection over Replication”
Hosting Organization: Online Writing Centers Community
Registration: Register Online>>

Event Description
Online tutoring at its best is shaped by learners and learning and not simply an attempt to replicate in-person tutoring practices. As writing centers grapple with the logistics of online programming, this webinar presentation will help attendees to:

Use existing research to evaluate the benefits of asynchronous and synchronous tutoring
Recognize what writing centers and learners can gain as tutoring goes online
Reflect on values needed to rethink online tutoring and approaches to tutor training

American Sign Language interpretation will be provided. This webinar will be recorded.

GSOLE Webinar | Racial Justice in Virtual Tutoring: Considerations for Antiracist Online Writing Center Praxis
2020-08-31 16:00 - 17:30
Event Details

Date: August 31, 2020, 4-5:30pm EST
Presenter: Zandra Jordan
Title: “Racial Justice in Virtual Tutoring: Considerations for Antiracist Online Writing Center Praxis”
Hosting Organization: Global Society for Online Literacy Educators (GSOLE)
Cost: Free for GSOLE members; $15 for non-GSOLE members
Registration: Register Online>>

Event Description
The webinar will explore the ways our commitments to antiracism and racial justice can translate into online writing center tutoring practice. The leader, Zandra, will share the ways her identity informs her ethics, and will invite participants to explore their own values and the values that shape the identities of their writing centers. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to promoting racial justice through writing center practice, the webinar will stress that by examining our shared commitments and values, we can think through our individual contexts and determine strategies for action.
The first step is to develop a clear ethic: we need to recognize and account for race in our writing center practice, and then question what a justice-oriented practice should look like. This is particularly important in our current moment, when so many writing centers have shifted to online delivery. This webinar will thus recommend strategies for ensuring that our practices and our engagement with writers through the online medium are promoting racial justice.
Webinar participants will:

Inquire about their ethics and values around racial justice and antiracism
Reflect on how attitudes around race and difference are encoded into the language we use when we give verbal and written feedback
Recognize that neither asynchronous nor synchronous online writing center interactions are neutral
Acknowledge the unique challenges with and opportunities for antiracist praxis in an online writing center
Tailor an ethic of racial justice to their particular contexts

Webinar: Online Tutoring: Tips, Tricks, and Advice from Those Who Have Been There
2020-07-29 11:30 - 13:00
Is your WC going online in the fall? Are you utilizing your online tutoring tools more than ever before? Do you have questions about how to do this well? IWCA is sponsoring a webinar that may be able to help.
Join us on Wednesday, July 29th from 11:30-1pm EST for an event that will focus on the nuts and bolts of synchronous and asynchronous tutoring, and online communication tools you can use to connect to your staff and to your writers. Our presenters have had significant experience with online tutoring and want to share their work with you.
Below is the schedule:Online Tutoring: Tips, Tricks, and Advice from Those Who Have Been There OR Everything You Wanted to Know about Online Tutoring
11:30: Introductions
11:35: Dan Gallagher and Aimee Maxfield presentation about asynchronous tutoring
11:50: Jenelle Dembsey presentation about synchronous tutoring
12:05: Megan Boeshart and Kim Fahle presentation about communication technologies useful for facilitating online tutoring work
12:20: Open for Q&A
While there will be an opportunity to ask questions in the chat box during and after the presentations, we would also ask that you submit your questions ahead of time to holly.ryan@psu.edu. Please send your questions no later than Tuesday, July 28th.
This event is free. This event will be recorded and posted on the IWCA webpage within one week of the presentation. This presentation will also have sign language interpreters. While this event is targeted at writing center administrators, tutors and other writing center staff are welcome to join.
If you have questions, please send them to Holly Ryan at holly.ryan@psu.edu.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://psu.zoom.us/j/96837785410?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Creating A Virtual Orientation & Resource Center To Prepare First-Year Students
2020-06-22 13:00 - 14:00
Innovative Educators is hosting a free webinar on virtual orientation. Register Online>>
Webinar Description
We are hosting an upcoming complimentary presentation about online orientation. This presentation will discuss how one of our partner schools moved their face-to-face orientation entirely online using our online orientation platform.
If you can’t make the live date, simply register and we’ll send you the recording.

Flipping Student Services: Using StudentLingo To Provide Hybrid & Online Service Delivery
2020-06-15 15:00 - 16:00
Innovative Educators is hosting a free webinar on StudentLingo. Register Online>>
Webinar Description
There has never been a more challenging, confusing, and overwhelming term opening than Fall 2020. If you’re planning to reopen with students living on or coming to campus, the preparation is so extensive it will strain even the most committed colleges. If you’re providing combined in-person and online classes or only a fully remote course schedule, even more, planning and implementation are needed to provide the best experience for whatever platform is implemented. How can you leverage online resources to continue to provide the high-touch experience students require?

How To Quickly Move Your Orientation Online: Responding To COVID-19 (Session 2)
2020-04-09 13:00 - 14:00
Innovative Educators is hosting a free webinar on online orientations. Register Online>>
Webinar Description
How can we design effective online orientation resources quickly to address the needs of our incoming students in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic? Come learn strategies for developing an online orientation program from the ground up or refining an existing program. We will focus on how we can create online resources that meet the needs of our students and support existing campus initiatives like first-year experience courses. We will specifically discuss how we can do so rapidly given summer is right around the corner.
Although institutions of higher ed are still transitioning to online classes in order to complete the current term, traditional summer orientation is right around the corner. With shelter in place orders and social distancing, how will you orient your incoming students for the fall term? We know that providing effective new student orientation programs that honor the unique nature of our students is critical to maximizing students’ success as they enter our institutions. This webinar focuses on how we can reach more students through implementing online orientation resources
This webinar will provide participants with a framework for online orientation resources: the nuts and bolts of what constitutes an effective online orientation program. In addition, participants will walk through several models for online orientation. Attendees will receive a how-to-guide for building online orientation. Attend this webinar to gain resources regarding online orientation, engage in meaningful dialogue with colleagues from other institutions, and gain additional insight into ways that institutions can help to best support their entering students.

Discuss the “why” behind online orientation

Understand strategies for onboarding and supporting students through online resources

Examine and identify best practices in online orientation programming

Acquire resources that can be applied to online orientation programming

Discover resources for bringing orientation online quickly given COVID-19

Discuss the “how” of developing online orientation including:

Steps to take

Tips for creating a development team

Considerations for formatting & material covered

How To Quickly Move Your Orientation Online: Responding To COVID-19 (Session 1)
2020-03-31 15:00 - 16:00

Preparing Your Student Staff to Work in a Digital Format
2020-03-30 13:00 - 14:00
Arizona State University will be presenting a free webinar entitled “Preparing Your Student Staff to Work in a Digital Format.” Register Online>>
Webinar Description

The Arizona State University Tutoring & Writing Centers are hosting a free webinar on Monday, March 30 from 10am-11am (Arizona Time) to share how we trained student staff to transition to a fully digital delivery model. ASU’s Tutoring & Writing Centers have offered peer-to-peer online tutoring for over 10 years and recently moved all of our in-person services to be fully online. A key component in the process was ensuring that our student staff were equipped to continue to provide quality service in a new modality. During this webinar, ASU staff will share how they assessed immediate training needs, developed curriculum, and facilitated training for Subject Area Tutors, Writing Tutors, Supplemental Instruction Leaders, and Desk Aides. Join us for this free webinar on preparing your student staff and empowering them to work in a digital format.

Transitioning Your Writing Center Online (Session 2)
2020-03-23 15:00 - 16:00
The Arizona State University Writing Center is hosting a free webinar to share how it has operationalized the transition to a fully digital delivery model. ASU’s Writing Center has offered peer-to-peer online tutoring for over 10 years and recently transitioned all of its in-person services to be fully online. During this webinar, ASU staff will share how they are using Zoom, TutorTrac, and Slack to continue to deliver services to all learners. Staff will share practical applications and their knowledge about how to best utilize technology to provide support. Join us for this free webinar on supporting your center staff and learners through this digital transformation!
Register online>>

Transitioning Your Writing Center Online (Session 1)
2020-03-22 17:00 - 18:00

Managing Teams Online: Advice and Strategies to Make the Transition Work
2020-03-20 13:00 - 14:00
Lauri Barnes, Joanna Beth and Amanda Temkiewicz are hosting an online presentation on”Managing Teams Online: Advice and Strategies to Make the Transition Work.”
No registration is required. Simply log in at this Zoom meeting link.

Walk-In Webinar
2020-03-20 11:00 - 12:00
GSOLE is hosting multiple walk-in webinars. The host for this time is Mary Stewart.
Areas of expertise: Synchronous learning (Zoom, Google Docs), peer review, asynchronous discussion, Desire2Learn
Visit the GSOLE website for links to enter the Zoom room.

Walk-In Webinar
2020-03-19 14:00 - 15:00
GSOLE is hosting multiple walk-in webinars. The host for this time is Scott Warnock.
Areas of expertise: Blackboard, asynchronous discussion, OWI/OLI principles
Visit the GSOLE website for links to enter the Zoom room.

Taking Student Services Online In Response To Covid-19
2020-03-19 13:00 - 14:00
Innovative Educators is hosting a free webinar on Taking Student Services Online in Response to Covid-19.
Register on the Innovative Educators website.

Walk-In Webinar
2020-03-19 11:00 - 12:00
GSOLE is hosting multiple walk-in webinars. The host for this time is Jen Cunningham.
Areas of expertise: Blackboard, asynchronous discussion, peer review, course design
Visit the GSOLE website for links to enter the Zoom room.

Walk-In Webinar
2020-03-18 15:00 - 16:00
GSOLE is hosting multiple walk-in webinars. The host for this time is Cat Mahaffey.
Areas of expertise: Canvas, Google tools, asynchronous discussion, creating accessible online content
Visit the GSOLE website for links to enter the Zoom room.

Walk-In Webinar
2020-03-18 13:00 - 14:00
GSOLE is hosting multiple walk-in webinars. The host for this time is Kevin Depew.
Areas of expertise: Synchronous video (Zoom, WebEx), Google suite, collaboration
Visit the GSOLE website for links to enter the Zoom room.

Suddenly Online: Tools, Training, & Tips to Make the Transition Work
2020-03-17 14:00 - 15:00
Lauri Barnes, Joanna Beth, and Amanda Temkiewicz are hosting an online presentation on “Suddenly Online: Tools, Training, & Tips to Make the Transition Work.”
No registration is required. Simply log in through this Zoom meeting link.

Walk-In Webinar
2020-03-17 13:00 - 14:00
GSOLE is hosting multiple walk-in webinars. The host for this time is Natalie Stillman-Webb.
Areas of expertise: Canvas, teaching presence, writing process assignments, asynchronous discussion, responding to student writing
To participate, enter the Zoom Room at the time of the webinar.

Walk-In Webinar
2020-03-17 11:00 - 12:00
GSOLE is hosting multiple walk-in webinars. The host for this time is Jason Snart.
Areas of expertise: Blackboard, User-centered design, Google tools, facilitating collaboration, OWI/OLI principles
To participate, enter the Zoom Room at the time of the webinar.

Walk-In Webinar
2020-03-17 08:00 - 17:00
GSOLE is hosting multiple walk-in webinars. The host for this time is Lyra Hilliard.
Areas of expertise: Teaching synchronously in Zoom/ WebEx and Google Docs, Canvas, asynchronous discussions, collaboration.
Visit the GSOLE website for links to enter the Zoom room.

Virtual Conversation Hour: Branching Out for Better Marketing
2020-02-21 12:00 - 13:00
The OWC Community invites you to join us for discussion during our free Virtual Conversation Hour.

Date: Friday, February 21, from 12-1pm EST
Topic: marketing for online writing centers
Session Leader: Bethany Bibb, Assistant Director of Graduate Writing Center & SUU Writing Center at Southern Utah University
Registration: register online

Marketing can present a challenge for online and hybrid writing centers. This conversation hour covers leveraging cross-campus connections and exploring alternative channels to expand your marketing and increase your visibility.

Open Position: OWC Community Coding Coordinator
2020-01-01 - 2020-03-13
The OWC Community is accepting applications for a Coding Coordinator. This is a volunteer position for anyone interested in online writing center work. Applicants of all backgrounds are welcome to apply.
Responsibilities
The Coding Coordinator will be responsible for the following:

Managing all advanced coding and plugins for the OWC Community website in WordPress
Editing HTML, CSS, Javascript, and PHP to make our website template more accessible and user-friendly
Researching and installing new plugins that offer additional features
Managing the OWC Community listserv and solving technical issues in a timely manner
Attending a monthly meeting with other OWC Coordinators and additional meetings as needed
Representing the OWC Community at their local writing center conferences and at IWCA (when able to attend)

The person in this position can take on additional tasks, depending on their interests and availability. The time commitment is an average of 5 hours a month, but can fluctuate based on events and initiatives. Appointment to this position is for at least 1 calendar year, with the option to stay on longer if desired.
To Apply
To apply for this position, please send a general curriculum vitae and a 200-word statement of interest to submissions@onlinewritingcenters.org. Applications are accepted until the position is filled.
Applicants will be invited to attend a video meeting to meet the current OWC Coordinators and learn more about the position and our goals for this year. If you have any questions before or after applying, please contact Jenelle Dembsey at jmdembsey@gmail.com.
