http://tc.eserver.org/authors/Blakeslee,_Ann_M A bibliography of works by Blakeslee, Ann M in the field of technical communication. en-us Copyright (c) 2005-08 by the EServer. All rights reserved. tclib-editorial@eserver.org (TC Library Editorial Board) webmaster@eserver.org (Geoffrey Sauer) http://tc.eserver.org/images/newlogo.gif http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Blakeslee,_Ann_M http://tc.eserver.org/34079.html http://tc.eserver.org/34079.html This article reports data from questionnaires assessing the day-to-day experiences that members of the technical communication field have in carrying out their research. The data revealed that most members experience at least some frustration and numerous constraints that prevent them from doing the kinds and amounts of research that they want to do and that may affect the quality of their research. In short, technical communication scholars face an array of challenges. This article presents examples of these challenges and ideas that respondents had both for lessening the challenges scholars face and for better preparing graduate students. It suggests several practical initiatives for addressing these challenges along with realistic strategies for implementing those initiatives. http://tc.eserver.org/32236.html http://tc.eserver.org/32236.html There have been many attempts to assess the state of research in our field. This article is our attempt to both (1) synthesize recent analyses, opinions, and conclusions concerning the status of technical communication research and (2) propose an action plan aimed at redirecting our field's agenda for its research. We explore these questions: What are the recent research trends in our field? What is and is not promising about our recent approaches to research? Where do we need to go next? What are the critical components for a new agenda for our research? http://tc.eserver.org/29212.html http://tc.eserver.org/29212.html There have been many attempts to assess the state of research in our field. This article is our attempt to both (1) synthesize recent analyses, opinions, and conclusions concerning the status of technical communication research and (2) propose an action plan aimed at redirecting our field's agenda for its research. We explore these questions: What are the recent research trends in our field? What is and is not promising about our recent approaches to research? Where do we need to go next? What are the critical components for a new agenda for our research? http://tc.eserver.org/23006.html http://tc.eserver.org/23006.html Program directors could use data from protocols and interviews to identify 'natural sources of resistance', and 'translation and follow-up problems'. http://tc.eserver.org/22210.html http://tc.eserver.org/22210.html In recent years, our field has been seeking ways to build bridges and to partner with technical communication programs in community colleges, practitioners in industry, and our colleagues in other areas of writing. Many in our field have also been incorporating community service into their pedagogy. Another focus has been to reach out to high schools in order to connect with students who represent the future of the profession. We all recognize the benefits to be gained from such partnerships and projects. http://tc.eserver.org/21550.html http://tc.eserver.org/21550.html What's happening to all of the things our students in the different strands once shared in common? When I taught the research methods class last fall, I was struck when my students in both strands commented on how they had not realized until then how much they shared and how happy they were to be able to help each other and to inform each other's work. These comments, and the tangible evidence I had of their truthfulness in my students' productive exchanges, are at the heart of my concerns. I am curious if other writing programs with multiple strands are also encountering these issues. Is becoming more separate a natural response to developments and progress in our respective fields? Is it the best response to those developments and progress? http://tc.eserver.org/19069.html http://tc.eserver.org/19069.html In the last few years, both scholars and practitioners have considered the place of technical communications in relation to new information technologies. Most in the field agree that technical communicators bring a broad base of expertise, along with the ability to make a wide range of contributions to this realm. However, technical communicators still question the impact they might have and the roles and functions they might adopt in this area. In addition, they are still often plagued by an identity crisis brought on by a lack of recognition from other fields. http://tc.eserver.org/13137.html http://tc.eserver.org/13137.html Three technical communicators -- an entrepreneur, a university professor, and a newly hired employee and recent graduate -- discuss the collaborative environment they’ve created among industry practitioners and academia.