It's official, folks... the Coe Writing Center is an ethnographic research study.
Ok, so this has actually been true for quite a while. Chris Ervin, Director of Composition at Western Kentucky University, came to study Coe Writing Center centaurs in our natural habitat two years ago. We were in the process of moving from Peterson Hall to our current location in Gage Union. We Centaurs participated in interviews and acted as subjects in his observations.
Surprise! He liked us so much that he came back for additional research. (I mean, wouldn't you want to come back? We have free coffee...) He is examining how we utilize our new space now that we are all settled in.
Here's how part of the study went down at our staff meeting: Chris provided each of us maps of the writing center, noting where every sofa, chair, table, desk, computer, projector, etc. is located. We were instructed to annotate what we like to do in particular spots. For example, I noted on a sofa, "I like to watch TEDtalks here" and on a table, "I like to write blog posts here." (You can guess where I am sitting.) I am sure Chris will do fascinating, scientific magic with all this research... and maybe teach us a thing or two about ourselves and our new space.
Chris is also coming with us to Chicago for the Midwest Writing Centers Association conference. You can read about the CWC's role in this conference here.
We were so glad to welcome Chris and help with his research. And no big deal, we're kind of famous now. Kind of.
All the writing to you and yours,
Angela
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