Moving Online: Changing the Focus of a Writing Center

This paper charts the development of a small departmental writing center at a university in Japan. The paper discusses the results from two semesters of an ongoing action research project focused on improving the usage of the center. Faced with significant constraints and decreasing usage, the proje...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Gene Thompson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kanda University of International Studies 2014-06-01
Series:Studies in Self-Access Learning Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sisaljournal.org/archives/june14/thompson/
Description
Summary:This paper charts the development of a small departmental writing center at a university in Japan. The paper discusses the results from two semesters of an ongoing action research project focused on improving the usage of the center. Faced with significant constraints and decreasing usage, the project used student survey data collected at the end of each semester to drive developments to the center. This led to a shift from using a face-to-face peer model for the writing center, to organizing it as an online writing lab. The article demonstrates the potential benefits of moving online for centers facing significant constraints, and the importance of using data for decision making in driving center development.
ISSN:2185-3762
2185-3762