Advanced technology lab hopes to increase student engagement
The Digital Writing and Rhetoric Studio is open to any student enrolled in a writing course. PHOTO CREDIT: Maddie Bataille | Photo Editor
Last week, the Department of Writing and Rhetoric at the University of Rhode Island held an open house for the newly renovated Digital Writing and Research Studio (DWARS) in Roosevelt Hall.
This space, mostly used by writing and rhetoric students, is a multi-purpose area allowing students to write, receive tutoring and complete projects using Adobe Creative Suite.
Before the renovations, the studio was originally called the Writing Production Lab and had computers and desks for student use. Although the computers, including the software programs in Adobe, were readily available, there was no assistance provided for students who may have needed more support. With the opening of the new studio, there was more faculty and tutors added to the department for additional support.
The idea was to turn this room into something more and provide better resources for students. A team of faculty and staff including Stephanie West-Puckett, assistant professor and director of First Year Writing, began to brainstorm a new use for the space.
“We surveyed students and faculty electronically, and the overwhelming result was that neither group found much need for traditional computer labs,” West-Puckett said.
While reviewing the responses in the surveys, it was evident that both students and faculty wanted the original space to be a work place for writers while also having support from staff. Thus, the production lab was due for a makeover.
“Instead, both groups wanted a place for writers to work and collaborate on the 3rd floor of Roosevelt Hall and, more importantly, a place where writers could find support for learning and using professional writing and design software such as Adobe inDesign, photoshop, and Rush,” West-Puckett said.
After hearing student feedback and looking at other universities that were able to create rooms like DWARS for their own students, the faculty began to see a vision for the studio. In order to accomplish the goal, however, they needed more help.
While the faculty team developed designs for the space and selected furnishings and equipment, Administrative Assistant Donna Hayden worked with vendors, facilities and students to get the space finalized.
New equipment, furniture and materials was purchased for the room, including high-top tables, new soft seating MacBook Pro laptops, Yeti mics, two consulting stations, mobile white boards and lamps for soft lighting.
In the end, Associate Teaching Professor and Writing and Rhetoric Department Chair Genoa Shepley believes that the new design and materials provided in the studio will attract more students and give them a sense of community.
“I want our majors and any writers on campus who feel like coming together to share ideas to get to know each other and to feel a sense of belonging,” Shepley said. “It’s a home for anyone who writes—and we’re all writers; everyone writes every single day.”
Although a majority of students use this space, faculty are also welcome to come and academically support those who may be seeking extra help.
Ariel Finkle, a fourth-year student double majoring in Writing and Rhetoric and Biological Sciences, said that the space has always been useful for her.
“Sometimes, I’ll go there in between classes to hang out or catch up on work and I also go in there to use the printers to print things out for class since they’re free to use,” she said.
DWARS is now open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.
“I don’t want this room to be a hidden gem,” Shepley said. “I really hope students take advantage of it because I think it’s a wonderful place to collaborate and learn and to be creative.”