Change Agents Conference 2012
The Writing Centre
Siân Harris
Case Study: The College of Humanities
Undergraduate Writing Centre
• Funding secured by Dr.
Lee Rumbarger in
Spring 2011.
• Work began on project
launch in October 2011.
• Centre opened for
appointments in
January 2012.
Writing Centre Ethos
• Provide students with
support and guidance
from their peers.
• Facilitate a fresh
discussion of academic
writing.
• Encourage students to
think beyond assessment
and develop their writing
as a skill in itself.
• Further a sense of
community amongst
student writers
The Peer Advisors
English
2nd Year
3rd Year
Modern
Languages
Archaeology
and Classics
“I have really enjoyed my time at the Writing Centre so far. It is particularly satisfying
when you can see how you have helped a student to improve an aspect of their
writing [...] It enables students to receive feedback in a relaxed, less formal
environment, without the pressure of the student / tutor relationship.”
The First Term
• The Peer Advisors have seen 102 individual
students over 11 weeks.
• 28 of those students have made repeat
appointments
Subjects
Classics
Drama
English
English and Film
Histories
Languages
Theology
Stage of Study
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
First Year
Second Year
Third Year
Fourth Year
Testimonials
“I found the session useful because it gave me a
clearer focus on my approach to an essay and also
some new ideas for research methods”
“It’s wonderful what can be achieved when you allow
someone else to peer at your work, and offer their
opinion. I feared I would leave the centre feeling
disheartened and nervous about continuing my
work, but I felt entirely the opposite. My regular
visits have instilled in me a far greater confidence in
my abilities and writing, reflected in recent marks.”
Digital / Social Media Resources
Student Led Virtual Learning
Future possibilities...
• Extending the programme / establishing
partner programmes to cater for a wider
range of students?
• Opening for Summer School activities?
• Expanding the presence online?
• Incorporating into module assessment – eg
students required to visit centre with a draft
of their essay in order to submit the final
version?
Key Points of Practice
• Student Initiative & Innovation
• Distributed Learning
• Peer-led Dialogue and Discussion