Posted by Carol Szatkowski on Tue, Feb 02, 2010
It’s important to stay on top of the trends in the profession, and STC helps with online certification courses and web seminars.
Online Certification Courses
STC certificate programs let you explore a subject in-depth over the course of those weeks. In addition to the practical work skills that you will develop, participating in a certificate program provides you with a unique live opportunity to learn directly from an instructor and to also exchange ideas and tools virtually with the other participants in the program.
Some of STC’s finest and best known instructors will be teaching the courses.
For the full details of a course and to register, please click on the course title below. For a full rundown of the schedule, click here.
Current Course Offerings
Business, Management, and Office Skills
17 February-17 March, five sessions
10:30 AM-Noon EST
Presented by Jack Molisani
Minimalist Writing
17 February-2 March, eight sessions
10:30 AM–Noon EST
Presented by Bernard Aschwanden
TechComm 101
17 February-14 April, seven sessions
10:30 AM-Noon EST
Presented by Leah Guren
Topic-Based Authoring
18 February-25 March, six sessions
10:30 AM-Noon EST
Presented by Sharon Burton
February 2010 Web Seminars
Ten Things You Thought You Knew about Writing
Presented by Leah Guren
Wednesday, 3 February
1:00–2:00 PM EST (GMT-5)
There is no question that this is a technically-challenging, demanding, and ever-changing profession. We sometimes get so caught up in mastering the latest version of a software tool, or keeping up with new standards and techniques, that we lose sight of the writing. And whatever else we are, we are supposed to be professional writers! Join us for this painless review of some the most commonly misunderstood (and misapplied) issues of TC grammar, punctuation, and syntax. You may be in for a few surprises!
Quick Reference Guides: Short and Sweet Technical Documentation
Presented by Ben Minson
Wednesday, 10 February
1:00–2:00 PM EST (GMT-5)
Quick reference guides provide a friendly way for users to learn new products without burying themselves in a manual or online help system. This seminar will help participants understand the benefits of using quick reference guides as a primary method of documentation. At the end of the session you will leave with tips and suggestions for developing organization, content, and layout for quick reference material.
Scenario-driven Information Architecture
Presented by Alyson Riley and Deirdre Longo
Wednesday, 17 February
1:00–2:00 PM EST (GMT-5)
Traditionally, scenarios are used as tools to help users understand a product or task. In our approach, scenarios are internal tools to inform information architecture and are rarely customer-facing.
Managing Conflict on a Global Team
Presented by Judy Glick-Smith
Wednesday, 24 February
1:00–2:00 PM EST (GMT-5)
Whenever there is more than one person working on a project, there is potential for conflict. When people are in disparate locations, the potential goes up considerably. Factor in cultural differences and the potential for misunderstanding and unnecessary conflict increases even more. This is not a presentation on how to avoid conflict, but a presentation about awareness. When one understands the conflict spiral, when one recognizes the other’s conflict style, when one recognizes the other’s cultural mores on conflict, one can choose the appropriate response to a potential conflict, hopefully, minimizing any negative impact on the project.
http://www.stc.org/edu/seminars01.asp
Posted by Carol Szatkowski on Tue, Sep 15, 2009
STC has some Live Web Seminars coming up that are really worth checking out.
Structure 2.0- Knowledge delivery at Symantec
Tristan Bishop will share how Symantec shifted customer documentation from traditional book paradigm into topic-based, on-demand user assistance, by deploying an XML-based publishing environment that combines open source technologies with select commercial applications.
Wednesday September 16th 1:00-2:00 PM
The Future of Technical Communication: Remix
Wondering just where our profession is headed? In 2004, Barbara Giammona completed research into the future of technical communication that was published in STC’s journal Technical Communication. Now, five years later, Barbara returned to her original participants, and a number of new contributors, to revisit the question of our future.
Wednesday September 30th 1:00-2:30PM
http://www.stc.org/edu/seminars01.asp
Posted by Carol Szatkowski on Tue, Sep 01, 2009
On September 16th, STC is holding this very relevant meeting. I hope to see you there!
Program Title: Accessibility and Usability
Presenters: Char James-Tanny and Christopher LaRoche
Usability becomes key in a competitive market, when customers are faced with hard choices and limited funds an efficient, well-organized design may be what tips the balance in a business decision. The result can be critical to a company’s continued growth.
The importance of Accessibility continues to grow, particularly in documentation and communication related to government programs. Some trends suggest that the establishment of proposed major new government programs will drive large documentation requirements…and that in turn drives requirement for Section 508 compliance as well as other issues.
This is a joint meeting with the STC Boston and Northern New England Chapters.
See http://www.stcboston.org/programs/prog_Sept09.shtml for details or to register.
Posted by Carol Szatkowski on Fri, Jul 10, 2009
STC has some very good Webinar’s in July. You do not have to be an STC member to participate though there is a cost. Where time is often the issue with attending seminars, STC makes it easy by producing 1.5 hour slots with clear objectives. Here is the schedule for July:
http://www.stc.org/edu/seminars01.asp
Designing and Implementing Embedded Help
Embedding Help into your software application is the ideal way to give users relevant information exactly when they need it, making them successful and increasing the usability of your application. Among other advantages, embedded Help is task specific, context-specific, and doesn’t require users to abandon their workflow. However, until now implementations have been hindered by the need for custom development and multiple Help files.
This webinar will discuss the many benefits of embedded Help and strategies for implementing it - specifically how to integrate and deploy a dynamic, embedded Help pane that displays relevant information as the user navigates the interface. Best of all, this type of Help pane can be replicated by many without a custom implementation.
It will also explain how to structure a single online Help file to work within the interface and as stand-alone Help, and how information developers can map the Help to the interface..
| Start Date: |
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 |
| End Date: |
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 |
| Coordinators: |
Elreatha Matthews, CMP
Education Manager
Phone: +1 571-366-1903
Email: elreatha.matthews@stc.org |
https://access.stc.org/imispublic/Core/Events/eventdetails.aspx?iKey=WEB0715
Posted by Carol Szatkowski on Mon, May 18, 2009
The STC-Boston Technical Editing special interest group (TE SIG) is sponsoring an evening meeting on Proposal writing. This is a very useful and marketable skill to add to your resume if you are a technical writer or technical editor.
Date
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Program
Proposal Writing Knowledge Helps Bolster Your Status at Work
Description
Scott Josephson, Associate Director of Technical Documentation at Wimba, Inc., will discuss why every technical writer should learn about proposal writing. Proposal writing could be another career avenue or make you a more valuable commodity at work and less likely to be laid off now and in the future!
The program begins at 6:30pm at Middlesex Community College in Bedford. Non members pay $13.00
http://www.stcboston.org/sigs/techedit.shtml
Posted by Carol Szatkowski on Fri, Apr 03, 2009
How many tools does a good technical writer need? Is it necessary to stretch oneself ino the training development field? Into the User Experience field?As technical writing jobs are fewer, it’s not a bad idea to look into closely related fields and places where you might be able to add value to new employers. This year the STC Technical Communication Summit, happenning right now in Atlanta, GA May 2-6 http://conference.stc.org/ has career tracks in elearning and also in User Experience Design. These are two areas that are natural tracks for tech writers who want to grow and expand their expertise.
I think all the tracks at this conference reflect the t the changing priorities of what writers are doing. It does take some additional education in both these areas but I think the investment would be worth while. Times are changing, and information is being delivered in so many different media. With all the mobile devices and social media, there is plenty of room for tech writers to contribute and add value.