Jeanetta Mohlke-Hill, Eastern Kentucky University
Claire Oldham Griffith, Michigan State University
Rofiat Bello, Michigan State University
Abstract
Drawing on insights from environmental systems and cross-disciplinary knowledge about ecology, this multimodal video essay narrates the collaborative process of three writing center practitioners as they created a curriculum for a professional development series on writing center ecologies—a curriculum rooted in ecological principles of scale, relationality, care and wellbeing, belonging, sustainability, and justice. Utilizing the power of image, sound, and audio, the trio brings each principle to life, sharing their personal and professional stories to highlight the importance of understanding place, culture, and power in shaping writing center dynamics. They advocate for care, sustainability, and justice in writing center practices by considering the long-term and large-scale impact of daily practices and relationships on broader systemic issues. Through this process, they not only exemplify what an ecological approach to writing center work looks like in our ecosystems, but also imagine the possibilities of how it can enhance writing center values, practices, and policies.
Keywords: writing center, ecology, environmental issues, curriculum, professional development, social justice, writing center administration, intersectionality
Video Essay
For the video transcript, see Appendix 1.
Cultivating Ecological Praxis in Writing Center Ecosystems
Building on the pedagogical principles presented in our video essay, we invite writing center practitioners to apply this ecological framework to their own institutional contexts. Since an ecological approach to writing center work requires context-specific strategies, we offer materials that prompt reflection and critical examination of the unique dynamics and interconnected relationships that compose and shape each center’s ecosystem.
Drawing on key principles from the video essay, this resource offers insights for practitioners to examine institutional challenges in their writing centers, including those posed by institutional constraints and barriers. It also invites reflection on the values and resources shaping their practices to navigate these complexities. By engaging in continuous reflection on the systems, structures, and practices that shape our work–many of which are often rooted in inequities and exclusion–we encourage practitioners to develop context-driven strategies for creating more equitable, inclusive, and responsive practices.
Through this process, we aim to support writing centers in becoming more ecological to foster adaptive and locally relevant approaches that address the diverse needs of their centers, institutions, and surrounding communities. This supplemental material is informed by our professional development series and a collaborative project with an international community partner. We outline key principles from the video essay, along with reflective prompts and suggested readings for writing center practitioners (i.e.., consultants, administration, coordinators, etc.) to explore individually or collectively. See Appendix 2.
Appendix
Appendix 1 – Written and Descriptive Transcripts for the Video Essay
Appendix 2 – Supplemental Materials and Suggested Readings for Ecological Praxis