Describes the progressive information design programs at Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts (both undergraduate and graduate programs) which build on user needs and discourage premature assumptions regarding the best way to design user support. Describes how the concept of knowledge-infused design (which considers support of user and task…

Presents a 17-item annotated list of essential books on information design chosen by members of the InfoDesign e-mail list. Includes a 113-item unannotated bibliography of additional works, on topics of creativity and critical thinking; visual thinking; graphic design; infographics; information design; instructional design; interface design;…

Discusses the knowledge, problem-solving strategies, and desktop publishing skills students need to learn about documentation writing. Describes a course developed by the authors that provides these skills, focusing on strategies for problem solving, user analysis, conventions, document design and desktop publishing, and using authentic…

Examines one online forum conventionally defined as open, the discussion list TECHWR-L, and considers some positionings and restrictions that both validate and invalidate participants' conversational topics. Considers the question of democracy as it relates to electronic conversations. Suggests that a wide range of discursive conditions, not just…

Examines the number of relative clauses and percentages of subordinate clauses in two sets of research reports from "Physical Review." Finds a slight decrease in percentages of relative clauses from the first set (1893-1901) to the second (1980). Finds striking differences in patterns of what relative clauses modify. Suggests a stylistic…

Describes how one teacher of a business writing course uses a car recall notice to address business writing principles of purpose, readers, information, organization, and style in relation to a specific example; and then has students revise it into the type of letter they would like to receive as car owners. Includes two examples of such…

Describes two exercises in story telling used in a variety of business and business communication classes that encourage students to engage actively in course material and to participate in class discussions: (1) applying course concepts and terminology to news items read outside of class; and (2) honing their skills at audience analysis and…

Describes a number of Internet-based assignments incorporated into a written business communications course, including e-mail, home pages, hypertext documents, an Internet-based unit, an electronic job hunting unit, and "PowerPoint" slides. (SR)

Offers examples from the author's experience to show how service learning is well-suited to the population of students who take introduction to technical writing at Salt Lake Community College. Outlines what the organizations and the students themselves say about the service learning experience. Outlines recommendations for making service learning…

Presents a historical study of early mainframe computing that demonstrates ways in which computer documentation genres grew out of other document types. Suggests early forms of documentation were borrowed from existing genres, and that official and unofficial documentation existed concurrently, despite efforts to consolidate these divergent texts,…

Examines three sought-after Instructional Technology Outcomes (increased productivity, managed change, and enhanced human abilities) concluding that much of IT falls short through impoverished implementation planning and blind faith in technology to solve problems. Discusses four areas of opportunity. Argues that these factors may culminate in…

Examines the rise to professional status of the fields of medicine and engineering. Examines the rise of professionalism in technical communication, and looks at the implications of greater professionalism for future directions of technical communication. Considers the role of academic programs and professional societies in setting standards and…

Introduces Vee mapping as an alternative method for traditional lab reports. Discusses six areas concerning Vee maps: (1) focus question; (2) word list; (3) concept map; (4) events; (5) data and analysis; and (6) conclusion. Explains the use of Vee maps and reasons for their use. (YDS)

In the context of producing academic research that is more accessible to people with intellectual disabilities, this article proposes publishing academic papers with a "parallel text" which would both provide a simplified version but also facilitate access to the main document. Background research on the idea of parallel texts and technical…

Explores fundamental differences in academia and industry and why academic-industry partnerships develop. Describes benefits of linkages for technical communication programs; development of linkages through early planning; types of linkages between academia and industry; impediments to such linkages; and results of successful linkages. (SR)