Integrating Communication and Technical Material in the First-Year Engineering Curriculum: The Role of the Laboratory  

Engineering 100/University Course 163 at the University of Michigan is structured as if the students were staff engineers for a company, and we have integrated technical communication by having the students write a laboratory report for the company managerial staff. Acunique component of this assignment is that the lab manager is equally able to evaluate the technical material as well as the communication in the reports. The students responded positively to the experience, but the results show a continued need to emphasize the informational needs of the audience regarding lab protocol and recommendations for future research.

Sulewski, Rob. STC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Education>TC

Integrating New Technology into Technical Communication Curricula  

An increasing number of articles are appearing in communications journals calling for the need for instruction in new technology in the classroom. However, there are several obstacles in integrating new technology, such as Iack of teacher experience, lack of equipment, and adjusting the curriculum. To successfully integrate new technology into the curriculum, technical communication educators need to cooperate with other departments, make themselves available for training, and decide on which courses will integrate which technologies.

Campbell, Jennifer. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Education>Technology

Integrating Service Learning and Technical Communication: Benefits and Challenges      

Our ethnographic study of a service-learning class revealed some students benefited in developing civic values, improving academic learning, and accepting responsibility for their own education. Other students struggled to see the connection between technical communication and service learning, felt frustrated with nonacademic writing, and experienced team conflict. We must redefine both technical communication and service learning, help students make the transition to the workplace, and educate community organizations about the role of technical communicators.

Matthews, Catherine and Beverly B. Zimmerman. Technical Communication Quarterly (1999). Articles>Education>Service Learning

Integrating Technical Editing Students into a Multidisciplinary Engineering Project      

A three-year experiment in integrating technical editing students into a multidisciplinary engineering design project developed several ways of helping students apply classroom learning to practical problems. Each year, the engineering students formed Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and the technical editing students provided editorial support, first as full members of IPTs, then as separate editorial support teams. Research from cooperative learning and teamwork indicates strategies and techniques for best integrating the technical editing students.

Norman, Rose L. and Robert A. Frederick. Technical Communication Quarterly (2000). Articles>Education>Engineering

Integrating the Web into Education for Technical Communication Majors: A Process-Oriented Approach

As the work of professional technical communicators has broadened in scope, so has the challenge of integrating this broader range of concerns into everyday practice.Within the academic world, the response has usually been separate courses.  Many undergraduate and master's programs in technical communication sport courses in usability testing, visual communication, project management, and technical writing and editing.

Carliner, Saul. Saul Carliner Studio (2002). Articles>Education>Online

Integrating Writing Skills and Ethics Training in Business Communication Pedagogy: a Résumé Case Study Exemplar    

An integrated approach to teaching résumé construction in the business communication classroom focuses on simultaneously (a) emphasizing writing-related proficiencies and (b) encouraging ethical and moral orientations to this task. This article provides a résumé construction exemplar that operationalizes these two pedagogical goals. The techniques and exercises used in the exemplar are presented as a way to make ethics education accessible for both business communication instructors and students.

Conn, Cynthia E. Business Communication Quarterly (2008). Articles>Business Communication>Education>Resumes

Intellectual Property Crash Courses

Over 250 in-depth articles on intellectual property law, including crash courses, FAQs and articles on specific topics, as well as explanations of technology from the law's perspective.

Engelfriet, Arnoud. Ius Mentis (2005). Resources>Intellectual Property>Education

Intentional Learning in an Intentional World: Audience Analysis and Instructional System Design for Successful Learning and Performance    

How do we support successful, lifelong learners and performers and help them competently respond to rapidly changing opportunities in the 21st century. The answer to this question lies in how well we understand audiences differentiated by key learning differences and consider how these differentiations influence winning learning and performance. Historically, cognitive-rich explanations have tended to underplay the dominant impact of affective and conative factors on thinking and learning. Recently, these dimensions have gained considerable importance as contemporary multidisciplinary research has begun to demonstrate how intentions and emotions can influence, guide, and, at times, override our thinking and other cognitive processes. More importantly, research suggests that intentions and emotions are a dominant, powerful influence on learner success.

Martinez, Margaret. Journal of Computer Documentation (2000). Articles>Documentation>Instructional Design>Education

Intentionality and Other 'Nonsignificant' Issues in Learning: Commentary on Margaret Martinez’s 'Intentional Learning in an Intentional World'    

The backdrop facilitating Margaret Martinez’s study and the increased interest in studies of learners and of alternative learning environments is a complicated one. Most certainly, technological advances during the last decade have invigorated educational institutions and corporate interest in providing alternative educational opportunities for under-represented audiences. Additionally, numerous educational researchers have noted the increased pressure to provide improved educational experiences that are driven by both internal and external pressures on traditional educational institutions.

Mehlenbacher, Brad. Journal of Computer Documentation (2000). Articles>Education>TC

Interacting with Engineering and Industry, Using Instructional Technologies in Technical Communication Education  

The evolving roles of technical communicators threaten the comfortable assumptions of many educators who see themselves as primarily writing teachers. These threats can become opportunities if we perceive ourselves as participants in the evolving paradigms. This new perception requires significant interaction with colleagues. As we start to see ourselves as collaborators at work, in education, across disciplines and boundaries, we can make larger contributions and can enjoy greater professional recognition. Technical communicators can be partners with engineering faculty in developing innovative curricula; can achieve educational objectives by becoming partners with industry and practitioners; and can lead the shift in education through instructional technology.

Davis, Matjorie T., Helen M. Grady and David C. Leonard. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Education>Instructional Design>Engineering

Interchange Keynote Presentation: E-Learning

In today's market, corporations consider 'cost avoidance' a top priority; nonetheless, complex products and tasks still demand training. Therefore, organizations look for efficient and effective training methods. E-learning answers that search.

Gruener, Bill. Boston Broadside (2001). Articles>Education>Online

The Intercultural Component in Textbooks for Teaching A Service Technical Writing Course    

This research article investigates new developments in the representation of the intercultural component in textbooks for a service technical writing course. Through textual analysis, using quantitative and qualitative techniques, I report discourse analysis of 15 technical writing textbooks published during 1993-2006. The theoretical and practical elements of intercultural teaching have been expanded in recent years, but this progress is quite slow. This article provides some directions in which the textbooks can be revised. Such an analysis may be of interest to textbook writers and educators.

Matveeva, Natalia. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2007). Articles>Education>Publishing>International

Intercultural Technical Communication: The Pedagogical Possibilities of Paralogic Hermeneutics

Our rejection of language as a system necessitates the rejection of pedagogical methods that seek to cultivate 'linguistic competence' or seek to develop 'intercultural competence' on top of the 'regular' work of technical communication instruction.

Daisy, Brenda. Orange Journal, The (2005). Articles>Language>Education

Interdisciplinary Communication in a Literature and Medicine Course: Personalizing the Discourse of Medicine      

To provide modest insight into whether or not reading literature helps medical students communicate more effectively in the physician-patient encounter, I conducted an ethnographic study of medical students taking a required three-hour literature and medicine course. This article will demonstrate that although these medical students were embedded in the discourse of medicine, reflective writing enabled them to conceive medicine as an interpretive, personal, and idiosyncratic activity rather than as a stagnant diagnosis-based process.

Welch, Kathleen E. Technical Communication Quarterly (2000). Articles>Education>Biomedical>Scientific Communication

An Interdisciplinary Course in Technical Communication    

Adresses engineering students' complaints that technical communication courses are not relevant to their major area of study. Describes a joint course in metallurgical engineering and English taught in the same classroom, with credit given in both subjects.

Andrews, Deborah C. Technical Communication Online (2003). Articles>Education>TC>Engineering

An International Technical Communication Curriculum: The Value Added  

In the expanding global economy, the focus on international communication has largely been devoted to machine translation of technical documents, and in a world of online information it only makes sense to take advantage of the computer’s speed and relative accuracy in translating documents. However, with the emphasis on machine translation as the standard, we still need well-trained people to conduct international business intelligently and effectively. The prototype curriculum presented below outlines some of the objectives and components for a program which focuses on both the technological and cultural elements of international technical communication.

Heba, Gary M. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>Education>TC>International

International Technical Training and Communication: Case Studies from the Industry  

A key element for the success of any business that operates in today's fast changing business environment is the optimization of communication and training resources. This is especially critical for a medical device company. The challenges of local language, culture, and regulations must be addressed by an iterative examination and adaptation of sales training and product literature to local needs. We developed strategies for planning, training, translating, producing, and implementing that provide our sales staff, physicians, and patients with useful product and therapy information.

Guthertz, Harriet and Richard J. Mann. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>TC>Education>Case Studies

International Writing Centers Association

An international organization for the directors and employees at higher education writing centers.

IWCA. Organizations>Education>Writing

Internationalizing Online Training  

Online training is becoming increasingly popular; however, geographic and cultural distance can work to your disadvantage. St.Amant outlines how to set up a training program that both attracts and benefits communicators in locations around the globe.

St. Amant, Kirk R. Intercom (2006). Articles>Education>Online>Localization

Internationalizing Technical Communication Programs: Teaching and Research Collaborations with the Universidad de la Habana (Cuba)  

Efforts to create joint programs with universities in foreign countries are evidence that internationalization is imperative. One such effort is the professional writing program at Fairfield University that recently established an international partnership with the Universidad de la Habana in Cuba.

Sapp, David Alan. CPTSC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Education>International>Cuba

Intertwining Structures of Assessment and Support: Assessing Programs-Advancing the Profession  

In my recent experience as an external assessor invited to participate in San Francisco State University's Technical Communication Program assessment, I felt that surely the process taught me more than I was able to provide in return.

Herrington, TyAnna K. CPTSC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Education>Assessment

The Interview Project: Reinforcing Business Communication Competence    

As business communication instructors, we understand the value of helping students learn, discuss, apply, and manipulate communication strategies on the basis of purpose and audience. This rhetorical bent encourages active learning through activities and multipurpose projects, but active learning often works best when students believe they are engaging concepts that will be useful to them in the future. I learned two very important facts early in my first business communication courses, taught at Iowa State University: First, the majority of my students were required by their majors to take the course, and second, many dreaded or resented taking what they thought of as another boring, impractical, useless 'English' class. To help my students believe that communicating professionally is vital to success, I developed an interview project, completed early in the semester, that encourages students to see beyond their preconceptions while practicing a variety of communication skills with professionals in different workplaces. A Multiphase Interview Project Interview projects are not new in business communication courses but can be extremely effective in actively engaging students. In the multiphase assignment I've developed, students plan, coordinate, conduct, transcribe, and synthesize interviews with three acquaintances or family members who work in different organizations.

Pope-Ruark, Rebecca. Business Communication Quarterly (2008). Articles>Education>Business Communication

Introducing Engineering Students to Intellectual Teamwork: The Teaching and Practice of Peer Feedback in the Professional Communication Classroom    

A rich discussion of collaboration as integral to writing in academia and the workplace has been on-going for some time among writing instructors and researchers. The outcomes of this discussion have convinced some writing instructors to promote peer feedback as one of the forms of collaborative writing in the classroom. In this paper we report on the preliminary stages of a longitudinal study of the role and place of peer feedback in the development of students' writing.

Artemeva, Natasha and Susan Logie. LLAD (2002). Articles>Education>Engineering>Collaboration

Introducing Technical Communication Into the High School Curriculum  

For years, technical employers have been lamenting: 'We want to hire employees who can communicate well with their co-workers, their supervisors, and the company's customers!' Now, a new course being taught in Canadian high schools will prepare students to do exactly that. The course has been developed by the Province of Manitoba, the first province to start teaching Technical Communication in the Canadian public school system. The curriculum has been pilot-tested for two years and the program goes full stream in September 1996.

Blicq, Ronald S. STC Proceedings (1996). Articles>Education>TC