Sessions /
Tutor Voices: Adjusting to Online Writing Tutoring #1309

Writing center tutoring is about developing the writer and not just editing their papers (North, 1984; 1994). Tutors are taught skills to put writers at ease. Some of these skills include asking questions that engage the writer and respecting silence during tutorial sessions. The year 2020 brought a global pandemic and with it a slew of changes to academic life and subsequently writing center tutoring. Face-to-face tutoring sessions became nearly impossible, and several writing centers switched to an online tutoring format. The already delicate interaction between tutor and writer was thrust into an uncharted arena. Some of the tutors' skills could easily be adapted to an online format, but distinct and unforeseen challenges arose. Four currently practicing tutors were interviewed about their struggle to adjust to online tutoring. The responses were transcribed and coded. Some of the challenges addressed by the tutors included the stronger role of silence during sessions, enforcing the boundaries of sessions, and frustration dealing with new technological platforms. The tutors also mentioned how both trial and error and collaboration/conferencing with other tutor peers helped them overcome some of these difficulties. While this presentation focuses mainly on tutorial sessions, the challenges listed have overlap with general classroom instruction.