Tutoring in the Time of COVID-19: A Reflection on the Psychological Dimension of Writing

Jessica Spaulding | English & Academic Success Center | Jennifer Stockdale

Honors Practicum

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the functioning of many Tutoring/Academic Success Centers and has altered the mediums through which services are offered, to the detriment of in-person human connection, but to the benefit of accessibility. Navigating writing tutoring services throughout this time has presented many challenges unique to the personalized and more emotional nature of writing. My own path as a writer through both the scientific and the creative has closely intertwined with an interest to observe the psychological needs of writing tutoring and the benefits of writing related skills that can be found beyond the classroom. Through a discussion on the important components of successful writing support, we can better examine how these skills benefit students regardless of their area of study and how to utilize tutoring modalities to strengthen a positive perspective on academic services.