|
April, 2005 |
Continuing Education? STC Members Speak OutSome years ago after returning from an extended assignment abroad, I found that U.S. technology had advanced greatly in the five years I had been gone. Despite having learned other languages, cultures, and international business skills, I needed to update my technology skills to jump back on the right track. Since the economy was also escalating downward, I thought a "professional edge" couldn't hurt an "aging professional." When I learned about a masters program in technical communication (MATC), I knew I'd found the solution.
I completed my MATC online through East Carolina University. The program worked well because I could manage the studies around my work schedule and family responsibilities. It also deepened my understanding of the technical communication profession and opened doors into a career I hadn't considered.
What is your background and education as a technical communicator? Have you considered expanding your skills to enhance or change your career? What courses and programs have you found most helpful? Have you found that continuing education helped improve your professional life?
I asked a few local STC members about their experiences with continuing education. I specifically wanted to know how it has helped them improve their technical communication skills. Here is what they said: I am a great fan of continuing education even
though I haven't taken a college course since completing my MA in Technical
Communication in 1996. When I entered the program at BSU in 1993, I had
been working as a writer for colleges and non-profit organizations for
about eight years. Unfortunately, these organizations had ancient terminal-on-a-mainframe
computer systems in which all commands were key sequences. I barely knew
how to click a mouse when I began using Windows-based programs at BSU.
In addition, I was used to writing essay-type documents with academic
overtones. I needed to gain new computer skills and learn a new style
of writing if I was going to enter the corporate world as a technical
writer. Continuing my education helped me do just that. My main form of
continuing education these days is to take courses at work, along with
the occasional professional training course. I am convinced that continuing
education is a necessary element of continuing employment.
Since I started as a biologist, I hadn't taken many
classes in writing or editing until I went to grad school in 1988. My
MS in Technical Communication from Colorado State provided a foundation
for my career in technical communication and taught me how to analyze
the data and audiences to identify their information needs. In addition,
I expanded my knowledge of research methods to include surveys and other
social science methods. Of course, new ideas are always coming up, as
are new technologies. Conferences, seminars, workshops, and volunteering
for professional organizations enable me to learn what's new and to continue
building my skill set, so that I'm ready when a client needs me to solve
their technical communication problem. As an example, I just got back
from Winwriters, where I met some of the gurus in our field, learned a
ton of new information that is directly relevant to several of my projects,
and heard about some things that are on the horizon that I hadn't thought
of before.
My continuing education in the past four years has
consisted almost entirely of intense self study. I have found that this
form of continuing education allows me to do what I really enjoy: dig
into numerous technology subjects at a fast pace and put them to practical
use. Without the slow pace of formal class schedules or the financial
drain of professional training courses, I can explore subjects to the
depth that I need and want to, and I can wander through the chain of interconnected
technologies to see how they all work together. This has allowed my to
expand my skill set considerably.
In this issue, Dr. John Battalio, professor of technical communication at Boise St. University, gives us helpful advice about continuing education. In his article, "Continuing Education in Technical Communication," he discusses the increasing popularity of single sourcing and content management, and he also provides reasons for continuing your education.
If you want to learn new skills, there are numerous options available, including the STC site resources, academic institutions, online searches, job training and networking. Locally, there are often STC-sponsored seminars, and BSU has a technical communication program (www.boisestate.edu/techcomm). STC also provides a database listing of academic programs worldwide at http://www.stc.org/academicDatabase.asp.
If anything, come join us at an STC meeting. Networking is often the most enjoyable way to learn something new!
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow... Learn as if
you were to live forever."
|
|||
|
Continuing Education? STC Members Speak Out
Continuing Education in Technical Communication
Getting Published
in Magazines
Advances in Education Initiative
|
||||
|
To be removed from this distribution list, please send us an e-mail with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
|
||||
