Embracing Interdependence in Online Writing Center Work (2021)

Abstract

We see interdependence as directly related to collaboration and community, which we feel are core writing center values and central to our work as writing center administrators. We plan to share our specific contexts and identify the various layers of interdependence that we recognize in our work. This isn’t to say there may not be others–in fact, there may be more within your own context and more nuanced ways of thinking about these individual layers. But we hope that by sharing the layers of interdependence we’ve identified and giving some clear examples of how these layers play out in our day-to-day writing center work, we can help you also think about those layers in your own work. And more importantly, and something we’ve all been contemplating as we worked on this plenary together, how we can continue to identify or create new layers of interdependence within our writing centers that are mutually beneficial to all those involved. By recognizing that the things that we value like collaboration and community are key parts of interdependence, and embracing that interdependence, we can create more sustainable writing centers and writing center labor practices. In other words, we need to rely on others and not only ourselves for online writing center work to flourish. We realize that not everyone has support systems within all the layers we’ll be discussing, so we hope to highlight ways in which you can build interdependence within the communities and contexts you’re part of, too.

Presentation Materials

Recording

Citation Information

Type of Source: Conference Presentation

Presenters: Beth Nastachowski, Lisa Nicole Tyson, and Megan Boeshart Burelle

Year of Presentation: 2021

Title of Presentation: OWCA Plenary: “Embracing Interdependence in Online Writing Center Work”

Conference: Online Writing Centers Association (OWCA)

Location of Conference: Virtual