Two Views on STC Certification

The ongoing discussion of certification continues with these concurrent articles, each arguing a different side of the coin.
Rosenberg, Nad and Geoffrey J.S. Hart. Intercom (2008). Articles>Certification>TC>STC
The Two-Headed Coin: Usability and Market Research 
Tracks the importance of usability and market research by following a typical project through each stage of development.
Bunker, Gary. Intercom (2006). Articles>Usability>Marketing
Ukraine: A Technical Communication Perspective 
Discusses Ukrainian communication practices and explains why the country could become an important region in the world economy.
St. Amant, Kirk R. Intercom (2002). Articles>TC>Regional>Ukraine
Understanding Career Development 
Describes four stages of career development.
Oestreich, Linda L. Intercom (2002). Careers>Advice
Underutilized: What You Can Do 
Describes how technical writers who feel their jobs aren't challenging enough can obtain more responsibilities.
Block, Barbara M. Intercom (2001). Careers>Workplace>TC
The Undervaluation of Writing Expertise 
Main argues that technical writing departments should value writing expertise more than tool experience when evaluating job candidates.
Main, Michael D. Intercom (2001). Articles>Writing>Assessment
Machine translation has improved greatly over the years, but one type of human communication, figurative language, remains difficult for computers to tackle. When we hear 'You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink,' we know that the speaker is probably commenting on human, not equine, nature.
Intercom (2004). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation
Chu defines Unified Modeling Language (UML) as a standardized system of diagrams, notations, and semantics for object-oriented design and modeling. He offers a basic introduction to UML, provides a conceptual model, and describes UML's building blocks and common mechanisms. The article includes a brief history of UML.
Chu, Steve W. Intercom (2000). Design>User Interface>XML>UML
Urban Legends of the Technical Communication Field 
Examines three widely held beliefs regarding technical communication and shows how they distort reality.
Statt, Ronald A. Intercom (2004). Articles>TC
Usability and Findability: Getting the Synergy Right 
Read about techniques for successful search engine optimization (SEO) as well as examples of good and bad keywording methods.
Spencer, Stephan. Intercom (2006). Articles>Usability>Methods
Usability and User Experience Design: The Next Decade 
Predicts that usability practitioners will need new skills to cope with changes in this field.
Wilson, Chauncey E. Intercom (2005). Articles>Usability>User Centered Design
Barnum discusses the importance of usability testing and suggests ways that managers of technical communication departments can convince their organizations to invest in usability.
Barnum, Carol M. Intercom (2003). Careers>Usability>Management
Usability Testing: Don't Let the Myths Put You Off 
Jarrett dispels several myths about usability testing that may dissuade technical communicators from applying valuable usability techniques.
Jarrett, Caroline. Intercom (2003). Articles>Usability>Methods>Testing
Usability, User Experience, Or Both? 
Explains how the new name of the former STC Usability SIG better serves the growing number of technical communicators whose work encompasses the overall product--not just usability or documentation.
Bachmann, Karen L. Intercom (2005). Articles>Usability>Community Building>User Experience
Usability: Making the Web Work 
Olive provides an overview of usability as it applies to Web design and discusses how to implement good design techniques on Web sites.
Olive, Eric G. Intercom (2002). Design>Usability>Web Design
Using a Bookstore to Land a Job 
Discusses how technical writers can prepare for new jobs by focusing on potential employers' needs and upgrading their writing skills.
Bush, Donald W. Intercom (2002). Careers>Interviewing>Writing
Using a Résumé to Showcase Your Talents 
Demonstrates how technical communicators can create achievement-based résumés that emphasize past accomplishments and future potential.
Bailie, Rahel Anne. Intercom (2003). Careers>Resumes>TC
Using a Writing Method to Design Applications 
Arguing that technical writers have the skills to do more than write documentation, Van Mansom demonstrates how technical writers can apply writing methods to the creation of software.
Van Mansom, Kees. Intercom (2001). Articles>Writing>Rhetoric
Ellison's detailed introduction to cascading style sheets (CSS), the technology that enables technical writers to apply formatting to HTML-based content, includes examples of how CSS is commonly used and offers tips on how to implement it.
Ellison, Matthew. Intercom (2002). Design>Web Design>CSS
Using Editors to Win Proposals 
Paradoxically, engineers are often forced to seek jobs by pursuing a skill at which they are, admittedly, often inferior: expository writing. To win proposals for new business, they have to put their worst foot forward. This unhappy situation presents a great opportunity for editors.
Bush, Donald W. Intercom (2004). Articles>Editing>Proposals
Using Humor in the Technical Writing Classroom

Humor in the classroom is about engagement and involvement. Learn some new techniques to use and when to tread carefully.
Campbell, Alexa. Intercom (2008). Articles>Education>Writing>Technical Writing
Using In-Country Reviews to Ensure Quality Translations 
Too often, in-country translation reviews are overlooked, even though they can document valuable feedback and save customers time and money on translation projects. The author provides several criteria for deciding whether such a review is right for your project.
Deschamps-Potter, Catherine M. Intercom (2007). Articles>Language>Localization>Methods
Using Résumés to Show the Value of Skilled Writing 
The difficult conditions in today’s tight job market provide a silver lining for those who teach technical writing. This urgent environment makes it easier to demonstrate the practical value of writing skills to students developing résumés and letters of application.
Schmadeka, Wayne L. Intercom (2004). Careers>Resumes>Writing
Using Storyboards to Design Web-Based Training 
The question asked most often about storyboards, Wiens writes, is 'Why bother?' Wiens demonstrates the value of storyboards in creating online courses.
Wiens, Angela R. Intercom (1995). Design>Web Design>Instructional Design
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