Saturday ChatAugust 18, 2012

Ugur AkinciTechnicalCommunicationCenter.com

1) Salaries are still good!In hi-tech sector, top Senior Tech Writers continue to make > $100,000

SOURCE: Glassdoor.com

Unemployment for college grads is < 5%

Source: NPR

$129K

$105K

$107K

$145K

$122K

$125K

$130K

2) Levels of Tech Writing(a) Documenting

◦Declaration of GUI elements or system/product components/parts

An excellent book by ASTD!

(b) Trainingreproduce exactly what has been

taught act automaticallyapply learning without variation,

regard less of conditions.

◦Teaching how to disassemble, clean, and reassemble a BOLT ACTION rifle.

(c) Instructinggeneralize beyond what has been

taughtact thoughtfullyadapt learning to each new set of

conditions.

◦ Teaching how to disassemble, clean, and reassemble ANY rifle.

TEST

Place a “T” beside each action below that you believe to require training and an “I” beside those that seem to fit with instruction.

 _____ Light a lighter. _____ Pronounce the French word manger. _____ Select an appropriate product for a customer. _____ Respond to a complaint. _____ Place a specific component in the motherboard. _____ Tie a reef knot.

ANSWERST Light a lighter. T Pronounce the French word manger. I Select an appropriate product for a customer. I Respond to a complaint. T Place a specific component in the motherboard. T Tie a reef knot. Items 1, 2, 5, and 6 are all tasks for training (reproduce without variation). Items 3 and 4 require instruction because each new customer will be different, as will each complaint. Those actions demand generalization of learning and adaptation of behaviors.

Thanks for coming!

See you next time…TechnicalCommunicationCenter.comwriter111@gmail.com