We want new Writing Center staff members to become familiar and comfortable with both the Writing Center’s expectations for working with writers and the Writing Center’s diverse and complex operations. As a new tutor, you will spend the first 2-4 weeks of employment observing and being observed by returning tutors during appointments with writers.

Collaborative observations allow you to

1. 👀 Observe appointments of returning tutors
2. 🫶🏾 Take the lead on appointments with the support of a returning tutor
3. 🪞 Reflect on these experiences in the context of our Core Practices
4. 🙂 Discuss your reflections with your course instructor—Erin or Matthew—and ask questions, clarify policies and procedures, and collaboratively assess your readiness for the relevant next stage in your onboarding

Collaborative observations are a WRD 395/582 course assignment, so you may need to complete them outside your paid shifts if necessary to finish them on time.

Instructions for Collaborative Observations

New tutors will complete 8 Collaborative Observations, write a reflection for each observation, and meet with your course instructor twice, once after completing each of two, distinct collaborative observation phases:

**Phase 1: Observing Returning Tutors** 5 Observations + Reflections Latest Due Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (see class syllabus for your exact due date)

**Phase 2: Taking the Lead** 3 Observations + Reflections Due by Wednesday, October 15, 2025 (see class syllabus for your exact due date)

The collaborative observations process scaffolds your learning about writing-based appointments so you are familiar with our Core Practices, policies, and appointment procedures and begin to develop tutoring strategies of your own.

It is your responsibility to complete the two phases of the collaborative observations process by the due date set by your instructor. It is highly likely and possible to complete this process during your regularly-scheduled shifts over the next few weeks; however, you may need to do this outside your shifts if necessary. You can start this process as soon as the Writing Center opens for the quarter.

<aside> <img src="/icons/send-to_orange.svg" alt="/icons/send-to_orange.svg" width="40px" /> *The requirements for the number of appointments you need to observe are designed to make sure you’re ready to take appointments by yourself by the end of the process.

If you want to observe and/or take the lead on more than the minimum required number of appointments in either phase of collaborative observations to help you feel better prepared to tutor, you are welcome to do so, provided you complete your observations and reflections by the due dates.*

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P**hase 1: Observing Returning Tutors

(5 Observations + Reflections | Due on or before Wednesday, October 8)**

During phase 1 of collaborative observations, conduct 5 observations and reflect on them.

• Observe at least 3 synchronous appointments: 1 face to face appointment, 1 online realtime (ORT) appointment, and 1 more of either online realtime or face to face
  • For face to face appointments: observe an appointment on the schedule
  • For online realtime appointments: observe an appointment on the schedule or by watching online realtime appointment recordings
    • When observing an ORT appointment on the schedule, join the session in WCOnline
• Observe at least 2 written feedback (WF) appointments with a returning tutor
  • While the returning tutor is reading the draft, you also read the draft in its entirety.
  • As the returning tutor works on providing feedback on the draft, consider the following:
    • What 1, 2, or 3 agenda items would you use for this appointment? Why?
      • Practice drafting an appointment letter including your proposed agenda items and how you would explain them.
    • Where and how would you comment on each of your agenda items in the writer’s draft?
      • Practice drafting a marginal comment or two for each of your agenda items.
  • Both tutors, time permitting, debrief after the appointment, discussing the process; block off 30 minutes after the appointment on both of your schedules
    • Clarify how and why the selected agenda items were chosen
    • Consider where and how marginal comments were included
    • Returning tutors can also explain their process and review the logistics, e.g. accessing the draft from WCOnline, reviewing the appointment form for relevant information, uploading completed written feedback in Notion, etc.
  • Ask the returning tutor to Slack DM you their completed written feedback so that it can be used while you reflect on the appointment
  • Only the returning tutor’s written feedback is sent to the writer