Training Student Tutors

When students intern in the writing center - they usually come as good students with lots of writing experience, but beginning tutors don't typically have tutoring experience. This is the reason why Evelyn Posey  writes about three methods writing center administrators can implement to engage interns in an ongoing training program. These methods draw tutors in to the operations of the program as a way to train them on the writing process and tutoring techniques.
Her first suggestion is to out the tutors to work running the writing center. When student tutors are involved in marketing, development, and administration of the program they gain on-the-job training. She suggests having a project and task sign up sheet available so tutors can sign up for projects they are interested in working on. The less experienced tutor may sign up for tasks such as marketing the program or updating materials with logistical information, and other clerical duties. These activities might not seem to have much to do with tutor training, but they offer the interns the ability to take ownership of the center and learn about the center's philosophy through reading, writing, editing, and promoting.
Her second suggestion is to use a writing-process worksheet during the tutoring session. The worksheet is a checklist that moves through each stage of the writing process, with prompts for questions to ask the client and space to mark answers, suggestions, etc. This helps familiarize the tutor with the writing process, and acts as a guide for the inexperienced tutor. In her article, the worksheet is designed to be sent into the center by a professor's suggestion, however I think it would be a useful tool without a referral.
The third method Posey suggests is tutor generated writing workshops. In this case, she is suggesting a peer-review type group in which the tutor acts as a guide as well as a participant. I think having workshops with specific subjects like grammar, brainstorming, revising, etc. would be another great way to not only encourage students to visit the writing center, but for tutors to gain experience as experts in the subjects they are most interested in.

This summer, interns in the writing center have taken on marketing projects individually and as a group with Yvonne. Social Media projects are an easy way to get involved in promoting the writing center and learning about writing and tutoring at the same time. A writing-process checklist is something I would definitely implement for future training purposes as well as having more experienced tutors plan and lead writing workshops with the assistance of beginning tutors. I also suggest new tutors bring in their own writing to workshop with other tutors - it provides valuable insight into the student's point-of-view during a tutoring session.

Posey, Evelyn. "An Ongoing Tutor-Training Program." Writing Center Journal 6.2 (1986): 29-35. Found in The Longman Guide to Writing Center Theory and Practice. Barnett R. and Blumner, J.