Technical Communication, an Introduction for Current Technical Writers, Editors and Designers

Course Name

Technical Communication, an Introduction for Current Technical Writers, Editors and Designers

Contact Hours: 30 (an estimated time frame devoted to a course of study from start to finish that can vary from student to student)

Course Description

Get an overview of the whole field of technical communication. Expand your perspective. For current tech writers, editors, and designers. An excellent course of study facilitated by a seasoned industry practitioner. Please note: Course of study may be completed earlier than indicated. Also, JER Online provides top-tier Technical Writing programs that adhere to academic guidelines. All assignments turned in by students are to be their own work with proper references cited. Any form of plagiarism noted will result in immediate course termination and failure. Please note: Course of study may be completed earlier than indicated.

Outcome

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 evaluation of your written work, using detailed guidelines given in each module.
• Through self quizzes.
• Through comments on your reports of activities that you undertake.
• A final exam.

Outline

Topics (Most or all are covered at discretion of the instructor)

1. Defining the field, becoming a profession 
2. The ideas of documentation, documents, and design 
3. Forces that have shaped our concept of technical communication 
4. A tour of the activities that now constitute technical communication 
5. Key tools you need to know-and how you can learn them quickly 
6. Observing readers in action 
7. Engaging readers`thinking and feelings 
8. Balancing the readers` needs with your organization`s goals 
9. Considering the actual experience of the users 
10. Seeing the text 
11. The role of typography and space 
12. Gestalt principles for design 
13. The interplay of words and images 
14. How your work fits into the organization`s life 
15. The idea of process 
16. The process of product management 
17. The importance of the information plan
18.  Analyzing your audience 
19. Doing task analysis 
20. Drawing up the task list 
21. Completing the information plan 
22. Creating a content specification
23. The process of user-centered design
24. How technical communicators fit in 
25. Putting the user at the center of the development process 
26. Testing your documentation for usability 
27. Developing your emotional intelligence, to become a star performer 
28. Understanding and using the levels of edit 
29. Case study: Writing a procedure 
30. Problems and opportunities when moving text online 
31. Final exam
    

Books

No book is required for this course. All curriculum materials are included in the Learning Management System.