Laura Mooney, Laura Hunter, and Andrea Zappone joined Hodgkins and tutors and directors from Colby, Bates College, the University of Maine, and Thomas College in a day devoted to “Engaged Evaluation: What We Do and Why We Do It.”
“The conference provided us with the opportunity to collaborate with writing tutors from across the state, and gather fresh ideas for our writing center,” Mooney said.
After participating in topic focused mixed-institution dialogues with tutors and writing center directors from other institutions, each group chose a member to present the results of each group’s discussion in a panel presentation. Laura Hunter was selected to represent her group.
“The conference was a great learning experience that enhanced my knowledge of the tutoring process,” said Hunter. “I am excited to implement the techniques suggested at the round table and panel discussions. Participating in the panel discussion was an opportunity for UMPI to shine and for all of us to recognize the important role writing centers have at our schools.”
“I was pleased by the emphasis on inter-institutional work and the professional role that the tutors played in the event this year,” Hodgkins commented, “and it was also gratifying to hear some of our practices at UMPI-from tutor training and lunch staff meetings to strategies for working with reluctant writers-referenced by participants from other institutions in the large group discussion.”
“It was helpful to consider the alternative approaches of other writing tutors and think of ways to implement some of those practices into my own work,” added Zappone. “The experience was extremely positive and I look forward to attending more writing center functions in the future.”