Technical Communication in a Digital Age

STC Chicago and Northern Illinois University are pleased to announce the Summer 2011 course, Technical Communication in a Digital Age. This course addresses methods for using technology in the workplace, and for authoring, collaborating on, delivering, and receiving information within challenging new digital environments. Course content and activities will offer new ways for thinking about the role of technical communication in a digital age by­ providing insights into structured authoring, content management, usability, social media, and online style.

The course is designed for people with little or no experience in the field, though it often enrolls a wide range of participants, including workplace professionals. The course consists of seven Saturday workshops (9:00 am - 4:00 pm), each led by an expert in the workshop topic. Participants also work on hands-on projects related to writing for online media. Participants earn three hours of undergraduate or graduate credit through Northern Illinois University. The course professor will be Dr. Jessica Reyman, assistant professor of Rhetoric and Professional Writing at NIU. No prior technology experience is needed.

Registration is now open. For registration information, visit the registration page, or contact the NIU Office of Registration and Records at (815) 753-0681 or by email. Participants should register for ENGL 424 (undergraduate) or ENGL 624 (graduate). Tuition information can be found at NIU's tuition information page.


Other questions? Please contact Jessica Reyman at 815-753-6644 or by email at jreyman@niu.edu.

Schedule for Technical Communication in a Digital Age, Summer 2011

• June 18, Introduction to the Course, Jessica Reyman, NIU
• June 25, Getting Technical about Editing Websites, Jesse Racine, Xeno Media
• July 9, Socializing Your Content: Using Wikis as Content Management Systems, Chris Hester, Infogix
  
• July 16, Web Accessibility and Universal Design, Karl Stolley, IIT
• July 23, A Usable Workflow: DIY Website User Testing, Kristi Leach, Independent Consultant
• July 30, Writing in Multimedia, Cheryl Ball, ISU
• August 6, Participant Presentations
  

Blogs of a Member

http://stc-chicago-jim.blogspot.com/ has a fictional story of how a freelancer developed a logo for a usability outfit. Please take a look; informed feedback is welcome, of course. This blog is called 'Technically Visual Communication' and has a number of drawings and mock (and real) ads.

PS I have two other blogs also: cartoons-jim.blogspot.com has many cartoons and drawings of mine.

And akn6z.wordpress.com is 'About Mandarin Chinese'

Jim Jones

STC Chicago

Take the Global Transport Challenge

Learn what you can do to save energy and contribute to a greener world by making simple changes to your everyday travel routines.

Take the Global Transport Challenge, which begins on November 13, 2008.

World Usability Day 2008

Transportation is the theme for World Usability Day 2008.

World Usability Day was founded in 2005 as an initiative of the Usability Professionals' Association to ensure that services and products important to human life are easier to access and simpler to use. Each year, on the second Thursday of November, over 225 events are organized in over 40 countries around the world to raise awareness for the general public, and train professionals in the tools and issues central to good usability research, development and practice.

Chicago's event takes place at the IIT Institute of Design. The event is free, but pre-registration is recommended due to limited space. If you go, let us know. Share your comments and analysis here.

World Usability Day 2007

Can you open a childproof pill container? Can you differentiate between two drug labels in 0.05 seconds? How does the design problem change when interfaces affect not just the user, but those interacting with the user? What does any of this really mean to you?

Check out Chicago World Usability Day - 2007 and find out. The agenda of the day is designed to educate and collaborate with the audience on the topic of Healthcare Usability. Morning sessions will focus on healthcare stories and usability cases, whereas afternoon sessions will have break-out sessions or collaboration tanks that encourage participant discussion and brainstorming.

The big day is November 8, 7:30 am - 5:30 pm, and the program will take place at the Intercontinental Hotel, 505 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. Registration is required (but free, free, I tell you).

Making life easy

The theme for World Usability Day 2006 is "Making Life Easy."

STC supports this year's campaign by sponsoring the World's Largest Online Card Sort and organizing a Usability Competition. To learn more about STC's contributions to this effort, click here.


Don't forget to attend World Usability Day in Chicago on November 14. For more information or to register, click here.