In addition, degree
programs must establish and maintain ties with industry so that
curricula meet industry needs and expectations and graduates are
prepared for careers in the field. Internships that allow students
in such programs to work in industry may be particularly valuable
(Bosley, 1988, and Norsworthy, 1988).
Process Versus Product
Another issue revolves
around the process/product debate that came out of research concerning
composition instruction. Is it better to teach various "forms" used
in technical communication; or is it better to teach a process of
analyzing and composing, which leads to forms appropriate for the
communication situation? Bishop (1987) describes a process-oriented
course with an emphasis on peer interaction. Roundy (1985) argues
for the efficacy of combined methods. In tracing the history of
technical communication textbooks, Souther (1990) notes that for
the most part, a compromise has been reached with texts he calls
"hybrids." These books combine process and product approaches. They
include models but take students through typical writing processes.
They may also note rhetorical strategies and include sections that
emphasize language usage and style.
Oral and Visual Components
A third issue for teachers
of technical communication is the importance of oral and visual
components. Desjardins (1987) points out that in business and industry,
those responsible for producing technical documents often have to
present them orally and need preparation to do so.
With the increasing
accessibility of desktop publishing, the technical communicator's
role is expanding to include graphics, document design, layout,
and the publication process. Gadomski (1988) discusses what can
happen when a technical writer takes on the role of graphic designer.
He also offers some resources for the writer in that new role.
The Importance of
Computers
With the increasing
use of computers, technical communicators will certainly be called
on to use word processing and possibly desktop publishing. As Farkas
(1988) points out, computers can alter, for the better, composing
and editing techniques.
In addition to perhaps
altering their composing, writers may be called on to write for
a new medium. For online documentation or computer-based training
materials, the "page" is not the printed one but a computer terminal
screen.
Those who write computer
manuals, argues Oram (1988) need an understanding of computer systems,
both to understand the product and to know what to include in the
manual.
WHAT RESOURCES ARE
AVAILABLE FOR TEACHERS
OF TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION?
Professional Organizations
Teachers of technical
communication may become active in several organizations that provide
contact with professional technical communicators and academicians
who specialize in the field. The Society for Technical Communication
(STC), 815 15th St., N.W., Washington, DC 20005, is the largest
organization and includes professionals from both industry and education.
The Association for Teachers of Technical Writing (ATTW), c/o Dr.
Carolyn D. Rude, Dept. of English, Box 4530, Texas Tech. University,
Lubbock, TX 79409, is strictly academic, and the Council for Programs
in Technical and Scientific Communication (CPTSC) is a small organization
concerned with academic degree programs.
Journals, Proceedings,
and Textbooks
A number of journals provide
articles on professional issues, comparison of academic curricula
and programs, and specific assignments for the classroom. Although
they are not discussed here, textbooks abound (Rainey, et al, 1990).
STC publishes Technical Communication quarterly. Most of the articles
are directed to the professional technical communicator, but such
information is essential for the academician who wants to stay current.
ATTW's journal, The Technical Writing Teacher (soon to be Technical
Communication Quarterly) includes teaching-related articles and
results of research in the field. It is an excellent source of ideas
for the classroom. Other important journals are the Journal of Technical
Writing and Communication, IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication,
and the Journal of Business and Technical Communication.
In addition to the journals,
proceedings from the CPTSC and STC (International Technical Communication
Conference, ITCC) annual conferences are valuable resources.
WORKS CITED
Bishop, Wendy. "Revising
the Technical Writing Class: Peer Critiques, Self-Evaluation, and
Portfolio Grading." Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the
Penn State Conference on Rhetoric and Composition, State College,
PA, 1987, 26 p. ED 285 178
Bosley, Deborah. "Writing
Internships: Building Bridges between Academia and Business." Journal
of Business and Technical Communication, 2, January 1988, 103-13.
Desjardins, Linda. "Speech
and Technical Writing: A Combined Approach." Paper presented at
the Annual Meeting of the Speech Communication Association, Boston,
MA, 1987, 16 p. ED 286 227
Farkas, David. "A Course
on Computer-Based Composing Strategies." Proceedings of the 35th
International Technical Communication Conference. Philadelphia:
STC, 1988.
Gadmoski, Kenneth. "When
the Technical Writer/Editor Becomes a Graphic Designer." Proceedings
of the 35th International Technical Communication Conference. Philadelphia:
STC, 1988.
Gifford, James A. "Individualized
Report Assignments via Computer," 1983. ED 239 269 Document not
available from EDRS.
Mancuso, John. "Requesting
Sets of Documents from Industry to Teach Technical Writing." Technical
Writing Teacher 11(3) Spring 1984, 208-209. EJ 315 132
Morrow, John. "Approaches
to Teaching: Adapting Cases in Operations Management for Use in
the Technical Writing Classroom." Technical Writing Teacher 15(2)
Spring 1988, 154-57. EJ 371 849
Norsworthy, Abigail.
"Internships: The Benefits for All Involved." Proceedings of the
35th International Technical Communication Conference. Philadelphia:
STC, 1988.
Oram, Andrew. "Essential
Computer Training for Writers of Software Documentation. Proceedings
of the 35th International Technical Communication Conference. Philadelphia:
STC, 1988.
Rainey, Kenneth et al.
"Resources for Teaching Technical Communication." Proceedings of
the 37th International Technical Communication Conference. Santa
Clara, CA: STC, 1990. (Forthcoming article, "Resources for Training
in Technical and Scientific Communication," IEEE Transactions on
Professional Communication, includes evaluations of texts listed.)
Roundy, Nancy. "The
Heuristics of Pedagogy: Approaches to Teaching Technical Writing."
Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Conference of College
Composition and Communication, Minneapolis, MN, 1985, 19 p. ED 257
095
Smith, Herb. "The Company
Profile Case Study: A Multipurpose Assignment with an Industrial
Slant." Technical Writing Teacher 17(2). Spring 1990, 119-123. EJ
410 074
Souther, J.W. "Teaching
Technical Writing: A Retrospective Appraisal." In Technical Communication:
Theory and Practice. B. Fearing and W. Sparrow, Eds. New York: MLA,
1990, 2-13.
