Patricia Dyer, PhD
- Director of Writing Center
- Professor
- Arts & Culture
Affiliated Programs
- English (BA)
- Creative Writing (BA)
- Secondary Education (BA)
- Elementary Education (MEd & Certification)
- Elementary Education & Special Education (PK-12) (BA & Certification)
Education
- PhD, English-Applied Linguistics (1982)
University of Delaware (DE) - MA, Bilingual Education (1973)
University of Delaware (DE) - BA, Russian Linguistics with honors (1961)
Cornell University (NY)
About Me
I graduated with honors from Cornell University with an undergraduate degree in Russian linguistics. I earned my master's in bilingual education and PhD in English-applied linguistics from the University of Delaware. In considering my teaching philosophy, I must clearly separate my two teaching responsibilities. For half of my assignment, directing and teaching for the Writing Center, I work with each student in a one-on-one situation. My responsibility is to assist students in developing and refining writing skills. I perceive my teaching role as that of a facilitator for the student. Although the learning situation is direct (one-on-one), my approach is non-directive; my purpose is to lead the student toward recognition of individual writing needs and solution of specific writing problems.
The other half of my teaching assignment, classroom instruction in writing (PRWR 320) and linguistics (English 326, 327, 328), requires a different pedagogy. While my focus in writing courses is on the individual student's writing skills, I am involved in both directive and non-directive teaching. Again, I perceive my teaching role as that of a facilitator. Much of my effort is directed to motivating students to take personal responsibility for developing and maintaining writing and speaking skills.
Media Expertise
- Intercultural communication
- Language and culture
- Writing program administration
- Business communication
- Linguistics
- English as a second language
- Writing
Noteworthy
- English Faculty Present at Coalition of Community Writing in Philadelphia
Patricia Dyer, a professor and director of the Writing Center, Jayne Thompson, an assistant teaching professor of English, and Ruth Cary, an adjunct professor of English, presented at the annual conference of the Coalition for Community Writing in Philadelphia in October.
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