Welcome Back to Blogger

Good Morning, OUWC Staff: I've sent out invites to everyone for everyone to join. If you know a new member, help him/her get started. While the invitation has been sent to the webmail account, staffers need to create a gmail account to access the blog. The blog OUWCWriteSpace has been inactive for months, but I think it is time to start sharing our experiences again, especially because we have so many new members. As we move in to the last few weeks of fall semester, I'd like you to think about the important role that we play in retention, not just in the lives of academically under-prepared or under-performing students, but in the lives and work of all clients. Best, Sherry

Technology, Media, and Writing

I was just thinking how technology streamlines information and productivity for many people today. I never imagined myself as a grown up using computers, phones, storage clouds and video chats to the capacity that they are being used and are available!

In any case, I think the ability for people to jump into the interweb and search for almost any question and find the answer in the form of a yahoo! answer, a youtube video or the infamous, wikipedia!

Now that we have ipads, I am thinking we are one step closer to using chat videos, websites, social media posts, music, movies and accessing art and other forms of expression right from the circle tables to aid in the discovery of writing!

Although, sometimes we do not need technology to get our point across. I remember a student who came in and was frustrated because she struggled with spelling. She had the word 'glamorous' in her paper and instead of pulling out the dictionary, we cleared our throats and sang the first part of the refrain "g-l-a-m-o-r-ous" from the infamous song by Fergie and sang our way to a clear spelling! The small act of singing a small line boosted her confidence because she knew that she had tools (music lyrics included) to be a successful speller, and after some more work on her paper, an improved writer.

We can use what we know, what we learn from others, and if our brain fails us, we can use our little orange and white tablets!

What stories do you have or what ideas do you have that include an ipad in your consultation?

Welcome to Winter 2012

Dear Staff: Welcome to the New Semester. Please take some time to review the consultant manual and to acquaint yourself with new procedures. Then, draft a reply to this that lets your colleagues, WRT 320 students, Pamela, and me know what you think about the changes and what you hope to accomplish this semester. Best, Sherry