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I've seen inquiries on this list from writers who are interested in becoming trainers or have been asked to figure out how to put together CBT or another type of training course. I thought this item from Online Learning News was an interesting comment on the reverse of that
question--maybe some of you do, too, and would like to discuss it.
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>From Online Learning News, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2000 Vol. 3, No 38
3. FROM TECH TRAINER TO TECH WRITER
How do you make the leap from technical trainer to technical writer?
What skills do you need? Where do you get them? Here's one response to
that reader question:
Saul Carliner ( saulcarliner -at- worldnet -dot- att -dot- net ), whose teaching
assignments include tech-writing classes, suggests shoring up writing
skills with a tech-writing course.
Or take an editing course -- the alternative that "helped me the most,"
says Carliner, who teaches communication design at Bentley College in
Wellesley, Mass.
More from Carliner:
o For developing online help, take a course in user assistance or
computer documentation. Learn RoboHelp -- the most widely used tool in
the field, says Carliner.
o To develop user interfaces, consider courses in information design,
computer-human interaction and usability. "Some of these courses are
taught in graphic design, not tech writing, programs," Carliner notes.
o To build visual-communication skills, take a course in graphic design
or visual communication. "Most programs for tech communicators have
them," Carliner says.
o To boost Web-design skills, try a course in information architecture.
o For Web-development skills, sign up for courses in HTML first, Java
later, and in tools such as Dreamweaver, Photoshop and Flash.
------------------------
Permission to quote this article to techwr-l was given by Online
Learning News,
A news and idea service of VNU Business Media. To receive OL News, go to http://www.vnulearning.com and click Free Online Newsletters.
(p.s. to those to whom I've recommended the newsletter--I was wrong,
there is no archive yet and I'm sorry I haven't kept back issues. The
editor is quite responsive though and may be able to send information
about specific questions.)
Janet Myers
myers032 -at- tc -dot- umn -dot- edu
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