Different ways to make tutoring efficient

In the article “An Ongoing- Tutor Training Program” by Evelyn Posey discussed a couple of different ways to make the best of the time tutors spend working for the writing center. The first way is by including tutors in the “Development and Administration” of the writing center in their down time. This allows tutors to build a community in addition to offering a unique perspective on possible areas of improvement.  This approach is the best out of all three because it allows the tutor to be a fundamental part of the writing center in addition to relating their tutoring skills to a greater purpose. The second approach is using a worksheet which is assigned by the teacher and completed by the tutor in order to show evidence of what was completed or worked on during a tutoring session. This method is useful for protecting the tutor and holding the student accountable. However making tutoring sessions required goes against the idea that the Writing Center is not a punishment. If students are required to go as a result of a bad grade they will continue to reinforce the idea that the writing center only helps “bad” writers. The final way tutors can spend their free time in order to benefit the writing center most is by participating in a writer’s workshop in order to be reminded of how hard it is to be in the tutees position. Workshop will encourage tutors to produce writing (most students who sign up to be tutors probably enjoyed writing already). In addition, the revisions they do to their own work will “transfer” into their tutoring sessions. Unfortunately this approach still seams to treat the position of tutee as a punishment. While it is good to keep in mind the tutee can be vulnerable I think the purpose of workshop transcends empathy for the tutee. I think workshop could be potentially useful for the tutees also. A well run workshop can function a lot like a collaborative tutoring session and may be a more effective way to appeal to upperclassman and creative writers (a demographic we don’t see a lot of).