Technical Communication, an Introduction for Current Technical Writers, Editors & Designers
Technical Documentation
Training
Provided by Online Training Directory
Get an overview of the whole field of technical communication. Expand your perspective. For current tech writers, editors, and designers.
If you have been doing some form of technical writing, editing, or design for a while, but you wonder what the whole profession really involves, this course will expand your perspective, and help you polish your skills. You`ll learn how to articulate the benefits of technical communication for the user and for your organization. You`ll see how the profession looks today, reflect on the forces that have shaped our field, and identify the wide range of activities that now constitute technical communication. Learn how your work fits into the organization`s process, and where the field is headed. You`ll learn best practices for planning, designing, writing, editing, and user-testing your documentation, online and on paper. Each week, you receive course materials from me and read material in Karen Schriver`s book.
You can email me questions, stray thoughts, or concerns at any time, and I will get back to you as quickly as I can. When you have read the material and done the challenges I suggest, you send those to me by email.
You get my comments back within 24 hours, along with materials for the next module.
The course is designed to help you become a sophisticated professional, so I invite you to ask any questions that occur to you, along the way. In addition, each week I will send you material expanding on the text, covering other topics, and offering challenges.
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Technical Communication, an Introduction for Current Technical Writers, Editors & Designers
Outcomes
By the end of this course, you`ll be able to: * Define the field of technical communication. * Identify tasks and job titles in the profession of technical communication. * Describe the historical forces that have shaped the profession. * Define key terms used in technical communication. * Analyze the actual experience of people using your documents. * Identify the way that typography and layout affect your readers. * Identify how you fit into a product management process, as a technical communicator. * Identify key components of an information plan, and content specification. * Analyze an audience. * Perform a task analysis. * Identify key activities in user-centered design. * Perform user testing on your documentation. * Identify the key emotional competences for outstanding performance. * Articulate the levels of edit. * Identify best practices when writing or editing procedures * Identify problems and opportunities when publishing text online.
Assessment
Your progress will be assessed in several ways: * Through my evaluation of your written work, using detailed guidelines given in each module. * Through self quizzes. * Through my comments on your reports of activities that you undertake. * A final exam.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Topics * Defining the field, becoming a profession * The ideas of documentation, documents, and design * Forces that have shaped our concept of technical communication * A tour of the activities that now constitute technical communication * Key tools you need to know-and how you can learn them quickly
Topics * Observing readers in action * Engaging readers`thinking and feelings * Balancing the readers` needs with your organization`s goals * Considering the actual experience of the users
Topics * Seeing the text * The role of typography and space * Gestalt principles for design * The interplay of words and images
Topics * How your work fits into the organization`s life * The idea of process * The process of product management * The importance of the information plan * Analyzing your audience * Doing task analysis * Drawing up the task list * Completing the information plan * Creating a content specification
Topics * The process of user-centered design * How technical communicators fit in * Putting the user at the center of the development process * Testing your documentation for usability * Developing your emotional intelligence, to become a star performer
Topics * Understanding and using the levels of edit * Case study: Writing a procedure * Problems and opportunities when moving text online * Final exam
Contact Hours: 30
By the end of this course, you`ll be able to: * Define the field of technical communication. * Identify tasks and job titles in the profession of technical communication. * Describe the historical forces that have shaped the profession. * Define key terms used in technical communication. * Analyze the actual experience of people using your documents. * Identify the way that typography and layout affect your readers. * Identify how you fit into a product management process, as a technical communicator. * Identify key components of an information plan, and content specification. * Analyze an audience. * Perform a task analysis. * Identify key activities in user-centered design. * Perform user testing on your documentation. * Identify the key emotional competences for outstanding performance. * Articulate the levels of edit. * Identify best practices when writing or editing procedures * Identify problems and opportunities when publishing text online.
Assessment
Your progress will be assessed in several ways: * Through my evaluation of your written work, using detailed guidelines given in each module. * Through self quizzes. * Through my comments on your reports of activities that you undertake. * A final exam.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Topics * Defining the field, becoming a profession * The ideas of documentation, documents, and design * Forces that have shaped our concept of technical communication * A tour of the activities that now constitute technical communication * Key tools you need to know-and how you can learn them quickly
Topics * Observing readers in action * Engaging readers`thinking and feelings * Balancing the readers` needs with your organization`s goals * Considering the actual experience of the users
Topics * Seeing the text * The role of typography and space * Gestalt principles for design * The interplay of words and images
Topics * How your work fits into the organization`s life * The idea of process * The process of product management * The importance of the information plan * Analyzing your audience * Doing task analysis * Drawing up the task list * Completing the information plan * Creating a content specification
Topics * The process of user-centered design * How technical communicators fit in * Putting the user at the center of the development process * Testing your documentation for usability * Developing your emotional intelligence, to become a star performer
Topics * Understanding and using the levels of edit * Case study: Writing a procedure * Problems and opportunities when moving text online * Final exam
Contact Hours: 30
About The Training Provider: Online Training Directory
Online Training Directory - Workforce and Continuing Ed online courses are offered at basic, intermediate and advanced levels. Going beyond basic training provides a deeper and more educationally rewarding learning experience, especially for students who wish to advance careers or initiate new ones. For the general lifelong learner we continue to offer "fun to learn" single, stand-alone courses.
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