Writing Centers always have publicity problems, since everyone assumes that they are "fix-it shops" or "comma garages." Editing services, in other words.
In the case of our Writing Center, we also struggle with not being noticed. It's not clear, in other words, whether students think about us very frequently. (If they do, what do they think about us?)
In our staff orientation last Saturday, I thought we had some good ideas for addressing some of our publicity problems. If we want students to notice us, a Facebook site might be a good way to help that happen. Also, the idea to staff a table in the union (with a big ol' banner) is a good idea, too.
On Saturday, I set up our WCenter Facebook site. Now we just need to design the thing! (By design, I mean layout and text as well as some bigger questions: how do we want to use this tool? Do we really want our pictures up on the site? Will we be friends with it?)
This coming week, we should also start thinking in earnest about staffing a table in the Union. What do we want to do there? How do we want to appear? Perhaps the sign shop can make us a giant version of our sticker to display? Where are those stickers anyway?
Comments? Ideas? Please have your say--
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The ideas that everyone came up with sound great, and I can't wait to see how they work out. Sign me up for table duty! :)
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if there is any stage at which we get student feedback? The reason I ask is that one of the writing centers I've worked at in the past would select anonymous (and positive) comments that reinforced the writing center as a helpful place where writers can grow. Such quotes might be another form of publicity, either in fliers or on the walls of the writing center itself. Reading of others' positive experiences can help people dispel the myths that writing centers are unpleasant or remedial fix-it shops. Harvesting and publicizing some of the positive feedback we receive may be another way to encourage participants to attend the writing center.
True Jen. I love publishing praise!
ReplyDeleteWe do have feedback questions on the back of the yellow sheets, it just looks a little will-nilly as to what sheet students are coming back with. I suppose we could find a way of surveying them ourselves, if nothing else...
On another note- with the WCenter facebook page as a business, it would appear that we "likers' can't post to the wall. I'm thinking we create an atavar for our bad tutoring selves.
I think that's a good call. We could create a regular page, so that people could post to the wall and such. We could even load the tutors' pictures (if they consent to it, of course.) I went ahead and created a "Tutor Jen" facebook profile, just so I can participate fully in any facebook interaction with the writing center's page. ;)
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