While Engineering values direct communication, indirect communication produces a kind of literacy salient for engineers that direct communication may not offer in the way indirect communication does. This article emphasizes the inadequacies of overly emphasizing direct communication for Engineering majors and explains how teaching indirect…

When games are approached as a pedagogical methodology, the homologies between games and technical communication are highlighted: pedagogy that teaches people to play and succeed within certain confines; classroom assessment that provides meaningful feedback to encourage self-improvement; instructional design that incorporates gaming theory and…

The authors are similar in sharing the academic discipline of professional writing and of both having had experience as writers and editors in the workplace, but they are different in many other and obvious ways. The students notice these differences, using, in course assessments, descriptive phrases to describe the contrast that include "yin and…

This study used a needs assessment, process analysis, process design, and textbook design to develop a new process and new textbook, based on Cargile-Cook's layered literacies, Quesenbery's five qualities of usability, and Carliner's information design theories, for use in technical writing service learning courses. The needs assessment was based…

This article explores how the English language contributes to cross-boundary communication failure and establishes that there is an "English language problem" that has not been adequately addressed in preparing United States native English-speaking students for international technical communication tasks. For example, U.S. technical communication…

There is often a particular void in the education of deaf and hard-of-hearing students who intend to become competent working laboratory technicians. Inasmuch as certain basic professional skills ("soft skills," in this case) are not generally taught in traditional science courses, a new curriculum has been developed in order to enforce…

"Innovative Approaches to Teaching Technical Communication" offers a variety of activities, projects, and approaches to energize pedagogy in technical communication and to provide a constructive critique of current practice. A practical collection, the approaches recommended here are readily adaptable to a range of technological and institutional…

Describes the development of, and examines the assumptions behind, Frank Aydelotte's 1917 theory and pedagogy of technical writing, called the "thought movement," in which engineering students were required to think and write about issues important to their education and future careers. (SR)

Notes that technical writing instruction often operates in isolation from other components of students' communication education. Argues for altering this isolation by moving writing instruction to a place of increased programmatic perspective, which may be attained through a means of assessment based on educational outcomes. Discusses two models…

Offers resources on technical writing published in 1981. Arranges the citations under the following categories: bibliographies, books, reviews, and articles on the profession; theory and philosophy; pedagogy; technical speech; research; designing degree programs; technical writing and the computer; writing technical articles and reports;…

Offers resources on technical writing that were published in 1980. Arranges the citations under 12 categories: bibliographies, books, reviews, and articles on theory and philosophy; pedagogy; writing technical articles and reports; research; technical writing and the computer; graphic/visual aids; correspondence; technical speech; and designing…

Relates a teacher's experience in teaching technical writing to gifted tenth grade students. Applies this teaching experience to a discussion of the place of technically oriented writing in college writing courses. (RL)

Summarizes a project that resulted in an experimental, multimedia, mastery learning course entitled "Writing for Industry." (MKM)

Suggests that technical writing teachers reconceive their purpose and curricula to give students the skills they really need to meet current demands of technical writing jobs. Explores the moral and pragmatic purposes of teaching literature and technical writing, the disparate needs and motivations of technical writing students, and the…