Online Writing Centers Association

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

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.

Virtual Conversation Hour: Assessment & Reporting for OWCs
2019-11-15 12:00 - 13:00
The OWC Community invites you to join us for discussion during our free Virtual Conversation Hour.

Date: Friday, November 15, from 12-1pm EST
Topic: assessment and reporting
Registration: register online

During this session, we’ll consider the following questions (or any other questions and ideas attendees bring!):

What metrics do you collect?
What barriers or difficulties have you encountered?
How has collecting metrics benefited you?
Who do you report metrics to and how do you do that reporting?

Virtual Conversation Hours will be held in Zoom; you will receive attendance information after registering. You can participate via audio and/or text chat.

SIG at IWCA 2019
2019-10-19 12:15 - 13:30
Session Information
Conference: International Writing Centers Association (view OWC-related sessions at IWCA 2019)
Date and Time: Saturday, October 19, 12:15 – 1:30pm EST
Presenters: Sarah Prince, Beth Nastachowski, Jenelle Dembsey, and Megan Boeshart
Onsite Participation: Room Union A, Hyatt Regency, Columbus, Ohio
Virtual Participation: Zoom. Register to attend our SIG virtually! Save your confirmation email with the link to join the session.
Abstract
This special interest group (SIG) is for writing centers working with or thinking about working with students online as either a partial or fully online writing center (OWC). During its second year at IWCA, this SIG will be structured in two parts: First, we will report back on current and upcoming initiatives, including the OWC Community website, our on-going virtual conversation hours, a special issue of ROLE on OWCs, and our efforts make this SIG an IWCA standing group. Second, attendees will participate in small-group discussions on the benefits and challenges specific to OWCs, including ways OWC tutors and professionals can better connect.

Virtual Conversation Hour: Identifying & Navigating Institutional Context for OWCs
2019-09-13 12:00 - 13:00
The OWC Community invites you to join us for discussion during our free Virtual Conversation Hour.

Date: Friday, September 13, from 12-1pm EST
Topic: identifying and navigating institutional contexts
Registration: register online

During this session, we’ll consider the following questions (or any other questions and ideas attendees bring!):

How do you know your student demographics? Where did you find them and who did you consult?
How did you determine your institutional context?
How did learning that information impact decisions around OWC tutoring?

Virtual Conversation Hours will be held in Zoom; you will receive attendance information after registering. You can participate via audio and/or text chat.

Virtual Conversation Hour: OWC Readings
2019-08-20 12:00 - 13:00
The OWC Community invites you to join us for discussion during our free Virtual Conversation Hour.

Date: Tuesday, August 20, from 12-1pm EST
Topic: OWC readings
Registration: register online

During this session, we’ll consider the following questions (or any other questions and ideas attendees bring!):

What readings do you find most helpful in your OWC work or your tutor training?
In what ways are those readings helpful?
How have the readings impacted or changed your OWC tutoring?

Virtual Conversation Hours will be held in Zoom; you will receive attendance information after registering. You can participate via audio and/or text chat.

Virtual Conversation Hour: Training for Online Writing Tutoring
2019-05-03 13:00 - 14:00
The OWC Community invites you to join us for discussion during our free Virtual Conversation Hour.

Date: Friday, May 3, from 1-2 pm EST
Topic: training for online writing tutoring

Registration: register online

During this session, we’ll consider the following questions (or any other questions and ideas attendees bring!):

What unique training, if any, do you offer staff engaging in online writing tutoring? How do you structure your training (is it integrated with your face-to-face training or is it an additional “level” of training?)
What training materials or activities have you found especially effective?
What barriers are you facing in terms of training staff engaged in online writing tutoring?

We welcome all participants. Virtual Conversation Hours will be held in Zoom; you will receive attendance information after registering. You can participate via audio or text chat.

Virtual Conversation Hour: Synchronous Tutoring Platforms
2019-04-12 13:00 - 14:00
The OWC Community invites you to join us for discussion during our free Virtual Conversation Hour.

Date: Friday, April 12, from 1-2 pm EST
Topic: synchronous tutoring platforms

Registration: register online

During this session, we’ll consider the following questions (or any other questions and ideas attendees bring!):

What platform do you use for your synchronous tutoring (e.g., Skype, Google Docs, etc.)?
What are the pros and the cons of your platform?
How did you choose the platform? What considerations went into that choice?

Virtual Conversation Hours will be held in Zoom; you will receive attendance information after registering. You can participate via audio and/or text chat.

SIG at ECWCA 2019: Evolving Technologies in Online Writing Center Work
2019-04-05 14:00 - 15:00
Google Doc for recording session notes
Session Information
Conference: East Central Writing Centers Association (ECWCA) Conference 2019
Type of Session: Roundtable and Special Interest Group (SIG)
Institution: University of Dayton
Session Title: Evolving Technologies in Online Writing Center Work
Facilitator: Jenelle Dembsey
Date: April 5, 2019 from 2-3pm EST
Session Description
The potential for online writing center work is directly affected by available and evolving technology platforms. At times, technology can limit what is possible. In other cases, technology can re-define online consultations entirely. For example, collaborative technologies like Google Docs have introduced the revolutionary idea that students can be present for and active in asynchronous appointments (Moberg, 2010; Schultz, 2010), blurring the boundaries between asynchronous and synchronous consulting support.
In a recent IWCA survey, respondents were interested in learning the pros and cons of different technological platforms used for online writing center work. As a response to this need, this session will engage attendees in conversations regarding the successes and failures of asynchronous and synchronous technologies in their local contexts. This session focuses both as a roundtable for online consulting platforms and as a special interest group for online writing center work more broadly. In addition to discussion, attendees will be briefly introduced to the Online Writing Centers Community and invited to participate in shaping future resources and support.

Virtual Conversation Hour: Asynchronous Tutoring Strategies
2019-03-26 13:00 - 14:00
The Online Writing Center (OWC) Community invites you to join us for discussion during our first free Virtual Conversation Hour.

Date: Tuesday, March 26, from 1-2 pm EST
Topic: asynchronous tutoring strategies
Registration: register online

During this session, we’ll discuss asynchronous tutoring strategies, considering the following questions (or any other questions and ideas attendees bring!):

What strategies do you use for providing students feedback asynchronously?
What technologies or tools do you find helpful or effective?
What kind of training have you done? What kind of training do you need to do?

We welcome all participants, whether you’re just beginning to think about asynchronous tutoring or have a lot of prior experience. Our goal is to bring together writing center tutors, administrators, faculty, and staff to share their experiences, ideas, strategies, and questions. Through conversations like these, we can connect our individual writing centers to build community.

Virtual Conversation Hours will be held in Zoom; you will receive attendance information after registering. You can participate via audio or text chat.
