#29826
This article argues that the small school context has been a relatively unexamined or under-examined context for technical and professional communication program development. While graduate program development holds a large share of the field's attention in recent national forums, growth in graduate programs is a consequence of demand in the job market among mostly "teaching" schools. Thus, the field must consider how well we are socializing new Ph.D.s into the values and the real work of institutions where they will find employment. Toward this end, this article articulates three mediating forces of program development in the liberal arts and humanities settings of small schools: 1) interdisciplinarity and flexibility are lived dynamics of small schools; 2) the campus-wide privileging of writing and communication skills presents ongoing opportunities for curricular initiatives and program development; and 3) compression of decision-making structures leads to more involvement of/with administrators and units across campus.
Latterell, Catherine G. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2004). Articles>Education>TC>Business Communication
#14311
Technical Communication - Evolution
The history of communications dates back to the pre-historic times when our ancestors used to communicate with the help of signs, flags, drums, fire, making odd noises. Those were the times when any language was not developed to communicate effectively.
Malik, Suman Lata. Technical Communications Group (2002). Articles>History>TC
#14923
Technical Communication + Comedy Improv = FUN! 
Do technical communication and improvisational comedy have common themes? If you answered, 'No,' then you were not at the November Silicon Valley Chapter meeting 'Comedy Improv.' Bonni Graham and M. Désireé Snider, both from The Creative Urges, a San Diego-based improvisational comedy group, presented skits to audience members showing parallels between communication and improvisational comedy. After each skit, Graham explained how the skits related to technical communicators.
Golden, Dara. Silicon Valley Connection (2003). Articles>TC
#24557
This article proposes a postmodern reconceptualization of technical communication pedagogy to make student and professional agency a major concern, especially because technical communicators must compete in a global economy that rewards flexibility and penalizes inflexibility. Postmodern mapping metaphors and Robert Reich's methodology for training 'symbolic-analytic' workers are used to suggest ways in which a postmodern approach to technical communication could be taught.
Wilson, Greg. Journal of Business and Technical Communication (2001). Articles>TC>Education
#31983
Technical Communication and Programming: Using Writing Rules
This article is about better commenting practices for the purpose of—perhaps—helping some to better their programming practices. But before beginning, let me qualify the entire thing by saying that I am not a programmer—not the professional kind anyway. I have created small programs in the past for some of my employers, but that is not how I make my living. Therefore, I am not trying to teach principles of programming. I am only a writing teacher who happens to enjoy programming as a hobby. And while I cannot provide insight into better programming principles, I can offer guidance about writing those short pieces of text programmers always embed, but sometimes neglect. Helping students write better documents is, after all, my occupation; and believe it or not the principles I teach to write better papers are not that different from the principles needed to write better code.
Lanier, Clinton R. sense and usability (2008). Articles>TC>Technical Writing>Methods
#15026
Technical Communication and the “New” Engineer 
To achieve collaboration between different actors in the workplace requires a holistic view and knowledge (and experience) in multiple areas: domain knowledge, general and specialised communication, IT. To cater for these needs, six disciplines at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have co-operated to design and teach a unique interdisciplinary and bilingual technical communication programme for engineers. The questions What aspects of technical documentation are particularly relevant to engineers? How can we encourage co-operation between engineers and technical writers throughout the design process? What can engineers learn from technical writers, and vice-versa? This idea market discussion will not only serve as valuable on-site practice for the student, but will also give the audience the possibility of evaluating the programme on the basis of both teacher and learner experiences.
Raisanen, Christine, Emmeli Olen and Martin Sahlin. Chalmers Tekniska Hogskola (2000). Articles>TC>Engineering
#25232
Technical Communication as a Profession
Technical communicators work with people involved in business and leisure activities, involving some form of technology and/or business process.
#29690
Technical Communication Education in India
It, perhaps, may not be an exaggeration to say that the words 'Technical Communication' and 'Technical Writing' became familiar to Indians only in the late Eighties. As the software companies in India started hiring writers for their counterparts in the US and Europe, there was new demand for a specialized breed of writers. The authors felt that to ensure there was a steady supply of trained writers, a structured training program on the subject was vital. This paper takes a look at the involvement of the authors, the industry, and teaching methodology employed in a course on Technical Writing offered by an Indian University.
Ravishankar R and Tharun K. Unni. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Education>TC>India
#13921
Technical Communication from 1950-1998: Where Are We Now? 
The changes in technical communication education between 1950 and 1998 have led to disciplinary maturity: the development of academic programs and of a body of innovative research. This disciplinary maturity parallels the professional identity and growth of numbers of technical communication practitioners. As a thriving multidiscipline with many direct research and pedagogical connections to the workplace, technical communication can uniquely influence workforce values, providing a new, evolving disciplinary model for higher education. However, technical communication’s disciplinary maturity also means a movement away from practice and from the service course, the foundations of technical communication as a discipline and the sources of its workplace influence.
Staples, Katherine E. Technical Communication Quarterly (1999). Articles>TC>History
#13951
Technical Communication Has a Bright, Exciting Future! 
What did Henry Ford do? He learned from other people’s experiences as well as his own. He took risks. He saw failure as a lesson, and he applied everything he learned to perfect the product, the process, and the policies that shaped the American automobile industry. In short, he was a great innovator. And, because he was so willing to share the lessons he learned, he became an inspiration to many others. The field of technical communication has a bright and exciting future because we’re innovators, just like Henry Ford. We work constantly to perfect the product, the process, and the policies that shape our profession. Technical communication work is being performed in more diversified environments than ever before, with experience, skills, and talents that vary widely. We know that there will always be a need for trained people to explain new technology, processes, and products so audiences can better understand or use them, so our future is bright and exciting. Technical communication enjoyed sustained growth for the last eight years of the 20th Century, but times are different now. We entered this new millennium with high expectations for continued success only to have our hopes crushed by tragedy as America was thrust into uncertain times. We’ve learned that 2002 is going to be a lean year and that many companies have fewer people to do more work. To prepare for the future, there are a couple of things I think technical communicators should do.
Laurent, J. Suzanna. STC Puget Sound (2002). Articles>TC>History
#21713
Technical Communication Has Come Into Focus Because of the IT Industry
How has technical communication evolved over the years into what it is today? How big an industry is it and is there a count of the number of people working as technical communicators?
Menezes, Frederick. STC India (2003). Articles>TC>History>India
#24900
Technical Communication in Australia: A Report of Progress Towards Professional Recognition
In 1987 Brockman visited Australia raising a number of issues he saw as critical for the successful progression and survival of Australia’s Technical Communication society, and the profession. Those comments pertain to technical communication as a profession, lack of academic programs in technical communication and a professional journal, need for authentication of members, development of a professional infrastructure, the fragmented nature of the ASTC. This paper reports on how the profession in Australia is progressing in these issues and how we compare with the STC.
Fisher, Julie L. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>TC>Regional>Australia
#10302
Technical Communication in Cyberspace
This introduction to a special issue of Technical Communication focuses on how the profession is functioning in cyberspace. It represents a range of topics: teaching about the Internet and via the Internet; working within organizational constraints; thinking rhetorically when creating a Web page; and remembering the international issues inherent in using the Internet. The technology, as this special issue illustrates, has great potential, and we should keep our eyes open for the possibilities and promises of teaching and practicing technical communication in cyberspace.
Gurak, Laura J. and Christine M. Silker. Technical Communication Online (1996). Articles>TC>Online
#10307
Technical Communication in Cyberspace: Report of a Qualitative Study
Technical communication is changing due to the prominence of the Internet and related technologies. This article reports the results of a qualitative study of how technical communicators are using the Internet. The study was conducted using surveys, phone interviews, and focus groups. Respondents indicated that the Internet is playing a significant role in the work practices of technical communicators. On the positive side, communicators find the Internet helpful for contacting customers, obtaining updated technical information, and publishing online documentation. On the negative side, communicators encounter company resistance and are frustrated with issues of company security and the lack of order for accessing Internet information. These features present new opportunities and challenges for the profession, including issues of training, interface design, working within other departments, and entirely new job titles and positions.
Silker, Christine M. and Laura J. Gurak. Technical Communication Online (1996). Articles>Internet>TC
#23452
Technical Communication in Europe
When the Euro comes to bring the EU-countries closer together on the financial level, technical communication won't stay behind.
#23413
Technical Communication in Israel
Israel rates as one of the highest per-capita technology consumers in the world, but its actual market size is small, as the total population is only about six million. This means that most high tech companies here must find additional markets outside of Israel. Therefore, most technical writing is in English, which is accepted in many countries and is also a more practical source language (for localization) than Hebrew.
#20766
Technical Communication in Russia and the Czech Republic: Observations and Opportunities
In March 1998, twelve technical communicators and technical communication teachers visited Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Prague to investigate the status of the field of technical communication.
Shumate, Chona E., Sam Dragga, Lena Jacobson, Patricia Tegtmeier, Celia Patterson and Patricia K. Cornette. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>TC>Regional>Eastern Europe
#15206
Technical Communication in Sweden
Describes what it's like to work as a technical communicator in Sweden, a country where the profession has a long tradition.
Moller, Birgitta. Intercom (2002). Articles>TC>Regional>Scandinavia
#13896
Technical Communication in the 21st Century: Where Are We Going?
Instead of offering a predictive “history” of the future, this essay explores how we arrive at our attitudes toward the future and the effects of such attitudes toward current practice. We greet the future with attitudes prepared by myths, master narratives that guide our vision of who we are and what we are becoming. One key myth in our discipline, the myth of immediate communication, proves an unreliable guide to the future. Readings in science fiction serve to demonstrate how a critique of the immediacy myth might proceed. The essay argues for a critically informed, open-minded approach to the future, an approach that encourages an honest self-criticism within the discipline.
Killingsworth, M. Jimmie. Technical Communication Quarterly (1999). Articles>TC>History
#24295
Technical Communication in the People’s Republic of China: Part I, Bridges and Barriers
In May of 1997, a delegation of twelve technical communicators and technical communication teachers (all members of STC) from the United States and Canada visited the People's Republic of China. The delegation was sponsored by the Citizen Ambassador Program of People to People International, an organization founded in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower to promote international cooperation. In a series of professional meetings with teachers of language, science, and engineering at universities in Beijing, Guilin, and Suzhou, the delegation explored the current status of technical communication and its teaching in China.
Scroggs, Debbie L., Sam Dragga and Sylvia Thompson. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>TC>Regional>China
#24294
Technical Communication in the People's Republic of China: Part II, Principles and Practices
In May of 1997, a delegation of twelve technical communicators and technical communication teachers (all members of STC) from the United States and Canada visited the People's Republic of China. The delegation was sponsored by the Citizen Ambassador Program of People to People International, an organization founded in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower to promote international cooperation. In a series of professional meetings with teachers of language, science, and engineering at universities in Beijing, Guilin, and Suzhou, the delegation explored the current status of technical communication and its teaching in China.
Scroggs, Debbie L., Sam Dragga and Sylvia Thompson. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>TC>Regional>China
#24507
This survey of 73 top-ranked U.S. and Canadian engineering schools examines initiatives that engineering schools are taking to improve communication instruction for their students. The survey reveals that 50% of the U.S. schools and 80% of the Canadian schools require a course in technical communication. About 33% of the schools utilize some form of integrated communication instruction, and another 33% offer elective courses in communication. Just 10 schools have created engineering communication centers to provide additional individualized coaching and feedback for their students. The most comprehensive preparation that engineering schools provide is a communication-across-the-curriculum approach that combines these instructional methods to offer concentrated instruction, continual practice, situated learning, and individualized feedback.
Reave, Laura. Journal of Business and Technical Communication (2004). Articles>Education>TC>Engineering
#13002
Review: Technical Communication Online: Book Reviews
Reviews of recent books published in the TC field.
#24899
Technical Communication Societies in a Global Environment
INTECOM (the International Council for Technical Communication) is an organization of technical communication organizations founded in 1969 by, among other national/international technical communication societies, STC. It meets yearly (sometimes twice yearly), and its primary goals are to improve networking between and among the member societies and their members, assisting national/ International organizations to form, sponsoring FORUM international conferences, and promoting technical communication education. The panel will present an update of the activities of the member societies to make INTECOM's activities more widely known so that STC members can take fuller advantage of them.
Beuttenmüller, Brigitte, Ronald S. Blicq, Julie L. Fisher, Gerry Gentle, Carel J. M. Jansen, and Thomas L. Warren. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>TC>International
#30465
The Technical Communication Suite from Adobe
R.J. Jacquez, senior product evangelist at Adobe.com, talks about the new Technical Communication Suite from Adobe, which includes RoboHelp 7, Captivate 3, Acrobat 3D version 8, and Framemaker 8.
Johnson, Tom H. and R.J. Jacquez. Tech Writer Voices (2007). Articles>Software>TC>Podcasts
