Ethical Aspects of Writer-Client Relationships  

Experts in the field have defined the essential criteria of ethical behavior in a number of fields. This presentation attempts to translate those criteria to the typical working environment of full-time writers. It examines these criteria in terms of the skills, task, and responsibilities of those individuals who create the documentation and directives by which America does its work.

Vaughan, David K. STC Proceedings (1994). Presentations>Writing>Ethics

Ethical Insights on XML and Single Sourcing  

Newer, more efficient technology for developing and disseminating information is rolling our way at a rapid pace. And, as always, we’re ready and eager to give new technology a try. Today, we’re investing in XML. But what is the ethical impact of this investment? And how should it aid the quest to align processes with technical capability? This paper focuses on the ethical accountability inherent in XML deployment and proposes an ethical platform for investing in this new technology.

Wiles, Debbie. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Content Management>Ethics>XML

Ethics du Jour: A Model for Ethical Decision Making in Technical Communication  

The purpose of this presentation is to introduce general guidelines or rules that technical communicators can use to deal with their specific ethical situations.

Slaughter, George. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>TC>Ethics

Ethics in the 20th Century and the 21st  

Ten to twenty Fellows of the Society share their stories of ethical dilemmas from their collective storehouse of experience. Their experiences come from virtually every major industry, many minor industries, the military and academia. In just two minutes, each speaker will tell of his or her most poignant ethical challenge. Subjects vary from business ethics to communication ethics—see Code for Communicators.

Malcolm, Andrew. STC Proceedings (1999). Presentations>TC>Ethics

The Ethics of Special Needs: It’s a Matter of Fairness  

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 cites 43 million Americans as having disabilities. Despite the progress the ADA represents in improving equality of opportunity for those with disabilities, much remains to be done—as evidenced by the fact that only 27.8% of working-age people with work disabilities have jobs, compared to 76.8% of those without disabilities. The statistics are even bleaker for minorities. The STC Special Needs Committee was formed in May 1999 to help members with special needs achieve their potential by making available to them information about products, services, and literature that can assist them in their career activities. Three of STC's six guiding ethical principles have high relevance to special needs: legality, professionalism, and—above all—fairness.

Voss, Daniel W. STC Proceedings (2000). Presentations>Usability

Evaluation of Training Programs in Technical Communication  

To remain viable in this economy, executives and administrators must produce efficiently and hence must assure sound evaluation of training programs in technical communication. These decision-makers can benefit from the insights of professional evaluators of educational programs so as to establish goals, secure resources, review the activities, and report results. Described and then illustrated here is the CIPP-model to review the activities, that is, the contexts, input, processes, and products. Well-done evaluations lift the level of communication skills, the morale of the students and faculty, and the organization’s products.

Battle, Mary V. STC Proceedings (1993). Presentations>Education>Assessment

Even Excellent Sites Benefit from Expert Reviews

Get the flavor of an Expert Review as Dr. Schaffer points out the strengths and weaknesses of 11 award-winning Web sites.

Schaffer, Eric M. and Phil Goddard. Human Factors International (2006). Presentations>Web Design>Assessment

Evolution to Performance Support: From Help to EPSS to PCD  

TimeCorp, a leading publisher of commercial labor management software, has been working to incorporate increased levels of user support within its software interface. In this case study we will present samples of the TimeCorp product support as it evolved over time, from the initial online help to the electronic performance support (EPSS) prototype to the performance-centered design (PCD) solution. The types of information provided in the support also evolved to match the mode of presentation. The documentation team led this evolution within the organization and their roles have changed as a result.

Battle, Lisa H. and Metta Johnson. STC Proceedings (2000). Presentations>Documentation

The Evolving Role Of Writers in Design  

The role of the writer is evolving as companies and teams evolve in what they produce and how they produce it. Web products demand the involvement of design-savvy writers, and GUI products in general demand writers ready to work within a design process. The writer not knowledgeable in design or design processes will not be ready to design in today’s software development environment. This paper examines one case study of writers’ involvement in the development of a GUI product and shows through the case study and through helpful tips how today’s writers can make a difference in product design.

Olsen, Eric. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Writing>Design

Facilitating Research on Global Partnerships in Technical Communication Programs

Discussion about fostering international relationships for academic programs in technical communication.

Farkas, David K., Kenneth T. Rainey and Bruce Maylath. CPTSC (2005). Presentations>Education>Globalization>Collaboration

Final Cut Professional

An introduction to using Final Cut Professional 4.0 for multimedia video production.

Eisenbraun, Michael and Amanda Metz Bemer. Studio for New Media (2004). Presentations>Multimedia>Video>Final Cut Pro

Find It Quickly: Creating Effective Indexes  

Although an index is one of the most important sections of a document, it's also one of the most misunderstood. Many people don kknow what an index is or mistake itfor the table of contents. For those casons, companies often don ‘tinclude indexes in their documentation. Will-written indexes increase productivity by helping employees$nd information faster This workshop provides the basic techniques of cteating an index your audience can use to find the information they need. lbu ’11have time to prepatv an index fmm a section of a document cun-ently in use by a major corporation.

Landes, Cheryl A. STC Proceedings (1997). Presentations>Indexing>Writing

Finding the Best Mix of Paper and Online Documentation: A Case Study  

The concept of the “paperless oflce” has become popular with executives who want to reduce costs and users who, often with good reason, refuse to open a manual. Technical communicators, who often understand the practical flaws behind this concept, must be prepared to make smart decisions about what information to present in manuals and what to present online. They must also justljj to management their decisions either to resist moving everything online or tofkd creative ways to do so without forgetting about the needs of the user.

Jones, Chip. STC Proceedings (1997). Presentations>Documentation>Online

Finding Your Focus: The Writing Process  

This presentation acquaints your students with the steps that constitute the writing process, including strategies for brainstorming, drafting, revising, and proofreading. This presentation would work well for the beginning of a composition course or the assignment of a writing project in any class.

Liethen, Jennifer Kunka. Purdue University (1998). Presentations>Slideshows>Rhetoric

Five Fail-Safe Tips When You Forget or Get Flustered During a Presentation

If you haven’t yet experienced your point of embarrassment or memory lapse, you will. When it happens, consider these fail-safe ways to regain your memory and retain your poise.

Booher, Dianna. Presenters University (2003). Articles>Presentations>Methods>Rhetoric

Five Levels of Planning  

The purpose of this presentation is to learn how to plan Agile projects from product vision all the way to daily stand-up and to feel the effect when 100 people prioritize, estimate and commit the plans for a major delivery.

Tabaka, Jean and Hubert Smits. Rally Software Development (2006). Presentations>Project Management>Agile

Focus on Simplicity

An IBM Ease of Use poster with the message 'Focus on Simplicity.'

IBM (1999). Design>Presentations>Posters>Minimalism

For A More Powerful Performance, Say It Short And Well

Centuries ago great orators often spoke for several hours at a time. But today, when sound bites on television news are the status quo and complex sociological problems are solved in an hour on a television drama, audiences are most interested in speakers who get their points across in a short period of time. Today, great speakers are noted for their brevity.

Boyd, Stephen D. Presentations (2003). Articles>Presentations>Rhetoric

Forming a Policies and Procedures Professional Interest Committe  

This session offers participants an opportunity to learn and contribute ideas about forming a policies and procedures professional interest committee (PIC) within STC. The presenter defines 'policies and procedures' and its growing importance in industry. Represents STC’s requirements for forming a PIC. He proposes a mission statement, goals, objectives, and activities for having this PIC. Participants comment on and volunteer for making this PIC a success.

Urgo, Raymond E. STC Proceedings (1994). Presentations>Collaboration>TC>STC

FORUM ’95 Conference Demonstrates International Cooperation  

The unusual mix of participants and formats in the FORUM 95 conference supported international cooperation and demonstrated new approaches for professional conferences. The FORUM 95 conference, held November 13-15, 1995, in Dortmund, Germany, supported international cooperation through its themes and organization. Using English as the operating language, FORUM 95 attracted widespread international participation. With the theme of “Disappearing Borders,” the conference demonstrated how limitations in political boundaries, media, and employment locations have shifted during the last five years. For example, registrants from the former East Germany, South Africa, and Estonia brought new perspectives on technical communication. Among more than 320 attendees, 41% were German, 13% Dutch, 12% Swedish, 10% US, 6% British, 4% Danish, 3% Norwegian, 8% all other European, 3% all other.

Reilly, Annette D. STC Proceedings (1996). Presentations>TC>International

The Four C's Leadership Model  

Hesitation stems from fear that no one will follow.

Milkovich, Anne. STC Region 7 Proceedings (2002). Presentations>Management

Free PowerPoint Templates  

These Free Powerpoint Templates are a great choice for a wide variety of presentation needs.

Chaw, Brandy. Powered Templates (2006). Presentations>Graphic Design>International>Microsoft PowerPoint

From Editing to Writing: Learning the Write Stuff  

At SAS Institute Inc., a leading software development corporation, the Documentation Development Division maintains separate staffs for writing and editing. Working as an editor and working as a writer require distinctly different skills in developing user documentation. In this paper, we discuss our experience making the transition from editing to writing: the differences between the jobs, the similarities, and how working as editors has benefited us as writers. We direct this paper to anyone interested in making the change, in either direction. While your situation may differ, we hope you find our experience informative.

Restivo, Kathryn A. and Philip R. Shelton. STC Proceedings (1994). Presentations>Editing>Writing

From Email to the Web: Teaching an ESL Technical Writing Class  

This paper discusses the author’s experience of teaching an English as a Second Language (ESL) technical writing class. The class consisted of students from several European and Asian countries who work for the same company as the author. The class began as an email “correspondence” class, but the author developed a web page which served as a “home” for the class to meet. As with most good classes, the teacher ended up learning as much or more than the students. This paper shares some of what the author learned from teaching.

Crawley, Charles R. STC Proceedings (2001). Presentations>Education>Online>Technical Writing