Collaborative Configurations: Researching the Literacies of Technology  

Discusses the electronic literacies of individuals from other countries who travel to the United States to study at colleges and universities in this country.

Hawisher, Gail E. and Cynthia L. Selfe. Kairos (2002). Articles>Education>Technology

Collaborative Projects in a Technical Writing Class: A Cost/Benefit Analysis    

With the shift in writing pedagogy from product to process, from emphasizing the individual writing--in a vacuum--to emphasizing the social context and social nature of writing, collaboration of some sort has found a place in most writing classes. The inclusion of collaborative projects in technical writing courses has a second, practical justification: the idea that these courses should prepare students for writing on the job, where collaborative writing is common.

Brumberger, Eva R. NCTE TETYC (1999). Articles>Education>Collaboration

College Curriculum and the Assessment of Recent Graduates  

Technical communicators and academics share an interest in higher education program assessment because the quality offiture employees is at stake. If universities fail to adequately educate, on-the-job training must pick up the slack. This paper describes Michigan Tech's efforts to learn what skills their recent graduates use, and where they learned these skills.

Jobst, Jack W. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Education>TC>Assessment

A Collegiate Writing Program for the 1980s

The two growth areas right now are the English as a second language (ESL) courses and the business and technical writing courses. The ESL courses fall outside the province of this paper, but the business and technical writing courses are very pertinent.

Corbett, Edward P.J. ADE Bulletin (1989). Articles>Education>Writing

A Column Sponsored by the ABC Teaching Committee    

If you asked your students whether they'd rather listen to a lecture, take notes from PowerPoint slides, or work with classmates on a project, most would probably opt for the project. Although definitions vary, active learning strategies are classroom techniques that engage students with the subject they're studying by discussing it, writing about it, applying it in some meaningful context, or otherwise working it into the fabric of their own experience and prior knowledge. They become active creators of knowledge rather than passive recipients of information.

Worley, Rebecca B. Business Communication Quarterly (2007). Articles>Education>Methods

Combining Interpersonal and Technical Communication Courses to Improve How Teams Function  

Research indicates that teams are more effective when they satisfy the social goals of their members. Therefore, teams that focus on interpersonal communication (the internal performance process) as well as the team's objective (the external product) improve their chances for success. It follows, then, that classroom instructors can enhance team success by adding interpersonal communication components to courses that use teams. This paper shows how we used this research to design an innovative NSF program. The program incorporated an interpersonal communication component to motivate student teams to succeed.

Barchilon, Marian G. and Donald G. Kelley. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>Education>Collaboration

Come Play! Using Games to Teach, Motivate, and Engage  

What have you done lately to make your training lively, fast-paced, innovative, participative, and imaginative? Baranich and Currie discuss using games in learning and business environments.

Baranich, Karen L. and Cynthia C. Currie . Intercom (1995). Articles>Education>Multimedia

A Comment on Greg Wilson's "Technical Communication and Late Capitalism: Considering a Postmodern Technical Communication Pedagogy"    

We find Wilson's argument compelling insofar as it emphasizes the importance of technical communication pedagogies that are informed by changing workplace conditions.

Fox, Catherine and David Fisher. Journal of Business and Technical Communication (2001). Articles>Education

Commentary on International Learning  

This article, subtitled “Audience Analysis and Instructional System Design for Successful Learning and Performance,” by Margaret Martinez is a must-read for all committed to seeing to it that technologies keep their promises and achieve their potential. There is a propensity among technology proponents to disregard, or at least to minimize the importance of, individual differences among learners and the impact of differences in learning. While the research design, execution, and fi ndings are significant it is important to recognize this work for what it is—a meaningful addition to a less-than-adequate body of knowledge. In our (still) instruction-centered educational environment it is still frustratingly diffi cult to elicit recognition that we are all different in many ways and that includes how we learn. Ms. Martinez has provided us with a contemporary update on individual difference data which flows well from her excellent historical review.

Russell, Thomas L. Journal of Computer Documentation (2000). Articles>Education>Instructional Design>International

Comments on Lab Reports by Mechanical Engineering Teaching Assistants: Typical Practices and Effects of Using a Grading Rubric    

Many engineering undergraduates receive their first and perhaps most intensive exposure to engineering communication through writing lab reports in lab courses taught by graduate teaching assistants (TAs). Most of the TAs' teaching of writing happens through their comments on students' lab reports. Technical writing faculty need to be aware of TAs' response practices so they can build on or counteract that instruction as needed. This study examines the response practices of two TAs and the ways the practices shifted after the TAs began using a grading rubric. The analysis reveals distinct patterns in focus and mode, some reflecting best practices and some not. It also indicates encouraging changes after the TAs started using the grading rubric. The TAs' marginalia became more content focused and specific and, perhaps most important, less authoritative and more likely to reflect a coaching mode. The article concludes with implications for technical writing courses.

Taylor, Summer Smith. Journal of Business and Technical Communication (2007). Articles>Education>TC>Engineering

A Commitment to Excellence: A Systematic Approach to Training Editors  

Creating and maintaining a high quality work environment that attracts and retains talented editors requires a commitment to excellence at all levels of a company or organization. A company dedicated to a nurturing work environment for its employees provides systematic training opportunities for professional growth. This paper describes how a company can meat its ongoing training needs for editors by offering formal and informal training programs and fostering learning at the group, department, division, and company levels.

Moell, Patricia G. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Editing>Education

Commonwealth Fellowship on Education and Technology: A Program Supporting Sustainable Professional Development in the Open Access Era    

Commonwealth Scholarship Commission encourages mid-career professionals to update their knowledge in sectors regarded as making an important contribution to the development of Commonwealth countries. The programs are very intensive and challenging, and demand very hard work to complete successfully the varieties of activities within the time limit. This paper describes the program and activities of a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship (CPF) in the United Kingdom in education and technology and its contribution towards sustainable professional development undertaken between 1 November and 31 January 2006.

Ghosh, Maitrayee. International Journal for Technical Communication (2007). Articles>Education>Regional>United Kingdom

Communicating Across the Curriculum in an Undergraduate Business Program: Management 100: Leadership and Communication in Groups    

Educating undergraduate business students in the 21st century requires more than addressing the quantitative side of business; rather, it calls for including the more qualitative 'soft skills,' such as speaking and writing. This article examines the design, delivery, and effectiveness of an undergraduate program dedicated to leadership, teamwork, and communication and describes this program within the context of the communication across the curriculum movement.

Tuleja, Elizabeth A. and Anne M. Greenhalgh. Business Communication Quarterly (2008). Articles>Education>Communication

Communicating Emotions Effectively in Online Learning Environments  

This paper presents an analysis of the various textual and visual ways that emotions are typically communicated in online learning environments. It also looks at the importance (and limitations) of both verbal and nonverbal online communication from the perspective of Daniel Goleman’s concept of “emotional intelligence.” Descriptions of three case studies demonstrate situations that involve emotionally-based student-instructor interactions that could have become problematic without the instructor’s awareness of the actual emotional issues involved. The paper concludes with a set of recommended guidelines for instructors addressing emotions in online learning situations.

Shirk, Henrietta Nickels. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Education>Online>Emotions

Communication as the Foundation of Distance Education  

Communication plays a vital role in learning, not only with respect to expository and discussion methods of instruction, but at a more consequential level in the development of higher mental processes through acquiring and learning to manipulate symbols. This has been so at least since the early days of Greek society where education of the citizen primarily was concerned with the ability to express oneself in a thoughtful manner in order to develop a better society. Isocrates, one of the first Western educators, stressed the relevance of speech in sharpening thought and judgment; his emphasis on the relationship between education and speaking well became the standard throughout the ancient Western world.

Brooks, Robert F. Kairos (2002). Articles>Education>Instructional Design>Online

Communication Patterns Between Organizations: Implications for the Classroom  

Because many corporations now outsource significant portions of their business to external companies, it is important to study and understand the role of writing and, more generally, differing communication structures between organizations. In my experience, this is not a topic that is discussed in most technical communication classrooms.

McCord, Michael. CPTSC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Education>Communication>Collaboration

Communication Videotape Strengthens ISO 9001 Employee Awareness  

Employee awareness training communication for a new company Quality System is enhanced through an internally produced videotape in interview format showing real people doing real jobs. The videotape introduces guiding principles, shows both company executives and employee co-workers, and places responsibility for successful operation of the Quality System on employees. Audits are pictured to reinforce the requirement for timely and accurate records. The videotape may be used in groups or individually in any location. Success of the communication program is in the continuous improvement of quality, and the auditor’s recommendation for ISO 9001 registration.

Keller, Leland C. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Multimedia>Education>ISO 9001

Community College Faculty Providing Industry Training as a Way to Gain Workplace Experience  

For college faculty members who have little or no workplace experience, providing industry training offers an opportunity for them to gain valuable, first-hand knowledge of workplace realities without the usual complications of corporate/business politics. It requires less commitment than traditional workplace experience, like consulting or short-term work in business/industry, because industry training courses are traditionally shortterm and narrowly defined. Also, they do not have to market themselves or manage financial and legal issues; these are usually left to a coordinator. It requires less preparation because they can teach courses which they have already taught in the college classroom.

Heilman, Christine W. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Education>Service Learning

Community Service: Giving Something Back Through Literacy Training  

Literacy is a major problem in America that affects our profession more than we may realize. A recent study sponsored by the U.S. Congress suggests that over half the U.S. population cannot read our writing. The literacy problem offers STC chapters a perfect opportunity to pool the best of their skills and to get involved in community- based projects. Our skills are exactly what are needed to help America attain one of its National Goals: 100% of all Americans will be literate by the year 2000. This workshop will help your chapter get active in giving something back through literacy training.

Hoft, Nancy L. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>Education>Community Building

Complying with the TEACH Act

On November, 2, 2002, the TEACH Act (Act) became law, fully revising Section 110(2) of the U.S. Copyright Act, governing lawful uses of works protected by copyright in distance education. By complying with the TEACH Act, certain copyrighted works may be used for distance education without permission from, or payment of royalties to, the copyright owner—and without copyright infringement.

Indiana University (2003). Articles>Intellectual Property>Copyright>Education

Composing Organically With Reader Engagement: The CORE Method  

The CORE method of teaching technical writing begins with a short core document and builds up from there. The method follows advances in writing technology and pedagogy, realizing the advantages of computer-assisted writing as well as the 'process' approach to teaching composition. The workshop creates opportunities for participants to evaluate the CORE method and apply it to their own teaching or training tasks.

Killingsworth, M. Jimmie. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>Education>Writing>Technical Writing

Composition Teachers: No Experience Necessary?

It's Monday, September 8, your first day in law school. Tonight you'll start your classes. You'll be taking Criminal Law and Procedure on Mondays, Basic Contract Law on Tuesdays, and Property and Law on Wednesdays. But before going to any of those classes, you are, at eight o'clock this morning, given your first task as a law student. You'll be trying a case in superior court. It doesn't matter what the case is; the defendant's future is on the line, and you are responsible for it. The fact that you've never taken a law course before and basically have no idea what to do in court also doesn't matter. After all, the way to learn to do something is by doing it. And if this defendant gets cheated out of the right to the best lawyer possible, and if the next several defendants also get cheated, does that really matter? Someday, chances are, you'll be a great lawyer. The above scenario is nothing less than ridiculous, yet in English departments across the country a similar scenario takes place at the start of every semester.

Webster, Janice Gohm. ADE Bulletin (1989). Articles>Education>Writing

Compositionality, Rhetoricity, and Electricity: A Partial History of Some Composition and Rhetoric Studies

Since 1949, when the Conference on College Composition and Communication was founded in Chicago, the terms composition and rhetoric have been linked in a social-constructionist move that is now ubiquitous in many United Statesian English departments as well as in many free-standing composition-rhetoric programs.

Welch, Kathleen E. Enculturation (2003). Articles>Education>Writing>Rhetoric

Computer and World Wide Web Usage of WSU Undergraduates

At Wichita State University (WSU), computers and the Internet continue to be incorporated into the course curriculum. We have noticed At Wichita State University (WSU), computers and the Internet continue to be incorporated into the course curriculum. We have noticed there are a wide range of computer skills and web experience among the students enrolled in courses offered in the Dept. of Psychology. We were interested in surveying our undergraduate students at Wichita State to determine just how much computer and web experience they actually have. To do this, we conducted a survey to 488 undergraduates (32% male and 68% female) enrolled in our Introductory Psychology course in the Fall of 1999. Fifty-one percent of the participants were freshmen with a mean age of 21.7 (range 16 to 54 yrs). at Wichita State to determine just how much computer and web experience they actually have. To do this, we conducted a survey to 488 undergraduates (32% male and 68% female) enrolled in our Introductory Psychology course in the Fall of 1999.

Chaparro, Barbara S., Michael Bernard, P. Moseley and B. Bartelloni. Usability News (2000). Articles>Usability>Education