Recording for the webinar titled “Essentials of instruction writing” which was held at 8:30 a.m. IST, April 2, 2011 (10 p.m. CST on April 1, 2011) by Dr. Lee Tesdell. Click the link- https://umconnect.umn.edu/p25839587/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal.

Regards
Rajdeep

Competition Rules

Entries in all categories must:

* Contain sufficient technical, scientific, medical, or similar content to qualify as technical communication.
* Have been produced or substantially revised within 24 months prior to September 1 of the current year.
* Have been originally prepared (and accepted) for publication by a client, employer, or publisher.

The competition organizers reserve the right to reject any entry for any reason.

Entries must be suitable for public display. Entries that contain classified or proprietary information or that violate copyright laws are not acceptable. It is the responsibility of the submitter, and not of STC India, to determine that entries do not contain classified or proprietary information and to obtain permission for submission of the entry from the holder of all copyrights. Neither STC India nor anyone associated with the competitions can be held responsible for loss of or damage to an entry.

Materials prepared for STC purposes are not eligible for entry in the competition. Examples of these materials include STC Publications books Intercom and Technical Communication articles and STC community websites, brochures, and newsletters. Community newsletters are entered in the STC Communications Competition.

A single entry can be entered in only one category.

The submitter must certify that the entry represents the actual work of the contributors named on the entry form and that the entry qualifies for submission. The submitter must also certify that the copyright holder permits the submission of the entry. The submitter receives all official correspondence relating to the entry. The submitter is responsible for all communication with the entry’s contributors and for distributing any awards.

Online Entry Notes

* Entries can be submitted to any category as they will be judged based on the use of the material and not the medium on which they are delivered.

* The platform (such as Web, Windows, or Macintosh) is not a consideration in determining the category.

* Entries that run on other platforms or require special equipment will be accepted, as long as the entrants provide such specialized hardware or software to the judging location at their own expense.

*If the entry is provided on a CD or DVD, specify the format (PC or Mac) on both the submission form and the media itself.

*If you send compressed files, they must be self-extracting.

* An entry on the Web is judged as it exists on the day of judging.

*Demonstration of the entry to the judges is forbidden.

*Entries must install correctly, be virus-free, and not take an unreasonable amount of time to install.

*If the entry uses any software other than the latest versions of Firefox, Adobe Reader, or Microsoft Internet Explorer, you must also provide four copies of the software with the entry.

Informational Materials Category

Informational materials are designed to attract potential buyers while providing information about a technical or scientific subject, product, service, or organization. The materials must persuade the audience favorably toward the subject or sponsor. Visual design, including production, is very important. So, too, is editing, because errors are very obvious.

The Informational Materials category includes all entries that are intended to inform the user of information without a specific call to action. These materials might include annual reports, articles, books, error messages, magazines, newsletters, periodicals, posters, research papers, and websites.

1. Annual Reports
Annual Reports are publications that summarize the activities or financial position of corporations, government agencies, or nonprofit community organizations. “Annual Reports” includes reports that comply with the regulations of government agencies, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as reports of unregulated, nonprofit organizations. The design should support the focus and projected image of the entity, and present financial and technical information in a visual manner.

2. Articles
Articles include scholarly articles, professional articles, and trade or news articlesthe following types of entries:

* Scholarly/professional articles are single articles appearing in academic or professional journals or in a scholarly book as an original contribution of knowledge.

*Trade/news articles are single articles appearing in trade journals or general interest periodicals and are not original contributions of knowledge.

3. Books
Books include bound, printed matter usually sold to the public through a bookseller, or e-books. For this competition, a book is defined as a lengthy document covering one technical subject that is intended for sale to the public.

4. Periodicals
Periodicals include magazines, newsletters, and scholarly and professional journals that are covered and bound or published in an electronic format. Submit three consecutive issues as a single entry.

This category includes the following types of entries:

* Magazines have features and regular columns in an established format that people recognize. Advertising may or may not be included. They are controlled by identifiable publishers or owners and served by editorial staff. Magazines can contain news and information about an organization, technology, industry, or scientific field. They can serve either an internal, external, special interest, or general public audience.

* Newsletters are regularly scheduled publications with brief articles and a flexible format. They generally have lower budgets and fewer pages than magazines, and may or may not have photographs and illustrations. Newsletters are generally about a company’s or organization’s employees or products, and they may be intended for an internal or external audience. Their primary purpose is to deliver information that, at the same time, will interest the reader and promote the interests of the sponsor.

* Scholarly/professional journals appear as serial publications with features and regular columns in established formats that people recognize. Advertising may or may not be included. They are controlled by identifiable publishers and served by editorial staff. Writing style may tend to be relatively formal, and design creativity may be limited, in keeping with standards defined by expectations of the profession. Journals are usually targeted for a limited and specialized audience and typically contain information about research and developments in a particular discipline or profession.

5. Technical Reports
Technical Reports report on scientific or technical efforts, usually aimed at the professional community or a contracting agency.

Instructional Materials Category

The Instructional Materials Category includes all entries that train a user/learner on a particular set of skills and knowledge. These materials might include CBTs, facilitator guides, instructional animations or videos, student guides, tutorials, and webinars.

1. Tutorials and Training
Tutorials and Training that have a primary purpose of teaching the techniques for using the main features and capabilities of a product, or of assisting in the process of teaching using computer-based training applications, tutorials, online lesson books, and training aids.

2. Training Guides
Training materials include student guides, tutorials, workbooks, and instructor guides, or sets of these pieces. They should also display good use of motivational techniques (cartoon characters, themes, human interest stories, color); layout or content that readily pulls readers in and keeps them interested in using the materials; student participation, such as exercises; and mechanisms for learners to check their knowledge, such as quizzes and tests.

Promotional Materials Category

The Promotional Category includes all entries that are intended to market or promote a product, company, individual, or event. The materials must persuade the audience to some action, using integrated text and figures. Visual design, including production, is very important. So, too, is editing, because errors are very obvious. These materials might include brochures, catalogs, fliers, posters, and websites.
1. Brochures and Catalogs

Brochures and Catalogs may be used to deliver information about technical products and services. Brochures should inform people about a product or the features or benefits of products. Catalogs should present large amounts of data in a readable format and provide information on ordering the product or service while being visually pleasing

2. Fliers
Fliers(advertisements, product data sheets, single-unit promotional handouts, and multiple-page publications) market a technical product, service, or organization. Corporate and program identity materials (folders, stationery, logos, etc.) are acceptable if they communicate technical information or images. Do not mount entries larger than 11 x 17. Roll up the entry and send in a mailing tube. Otherwise, smaller physical entries must be mounted.

3. Posters

Posters support or market an employee campaign, a technical product, an organization, an event, or communicate educational information (as opposed to marketing) about a technical or scientific subject, service, or organization. The entry description should include information about the poster use. Do not mount entries larger than 11 x 17. Roll up the entry and send in a mailing tube. Otherwise, smaller physical entries must be mounted.

4. Websites

Websites include those that might include interactive (online) or static, non-interactive information (online or print) describing or defining the main features of a product or product line.

User Support Materials Categories

The User Support Category includes all entries that provide information needed to support the user in performing specific tasks for independent use by the audience. These materials might include online help, job aids, quick start or reference guides, reference documents, user guides, and websites

1. Job Aids or Quick Start Guides
Job Aids or Quick Start Guides have the primary purpose of assisting the user to complete a set of tasks or solve a set of problems. Examples might include troubleshooting tools, wizards or wizard-like task completion tools, quick start guides, and automated support tools.

2. Help
Help includes online information that has a primary purpose of providing immediate assistance to individuals while they use a product. It provides information appropriate to the task on an as-needed or as-requested basis. Help might include general help, procedural help, cue cards, examples, performance support, videos, laminated quick reference cards, and integrated user assistance.

3. Organizational Manuals
Organizational manuals include content and tone that are usually company-dictated. Entries might include employee manuals, policy and procedure manuals, and style guides.

4. Quick References
Quick References include materials that provide concise reference to essential features of a technical product, service, or subject. The emphasis is on presenting essential information concisely and in a way that it is quick and easy to find. They often contain graphic devices and other job aids to help fulfill their purpose

Listed are the STC India Scholarship details. In cases, where you feel something is missing or your require more information, please write to the admin council at president@stc-india.org or vp@stc-india.org.
___________________________________________________

STC Scholarship Details_2010_revd

STC India Chapter_Scholarship App Form 2010_revd

scholarships_2004

scholarships_2005

scholarship_form_2006

STC India Chapter_Scholarship App Form_2007

STC Scholarship Details_2007

Resources

• Newbie Writers
• Lists
• Technical Editing
• Language and Grammar
• Style
• Tools
• Graphics
• Usability
• Technical Writing Companies in India

Scholarship Form for Download (For information on scholarship, Click here.)

Newbie Writers
Technical Communications Courses in India
EServer Technical Communication Library: An index of technical communication resources
Online Technical Writing

http://www.cloudnet.com/~pdunham/publishingprogramsfornewbies.html

http://www.docsymmetry.com

Lists
Techwr-l

Language and Grammar

www.m-w.com
Dictionary
Daily Grammar
A Guide to Grammar and Writing

http://www.worldwidewords.org/index.htm

Technical Editing

http://www.jeanweber.com/about/index.htm

Style

Elements of Style – William Strunk

Tools

SnagIt
Adobe
RoboHelp community
FrameMaker Reference Site

Graphics

Barry’s clipart server
Photostogo
Eyewire

Usability

Jacob Nielsen’s Usability Site
Usable Web

Technical Writing Companies in India

TASC Consulting Pvt Ltd
Technowrites
Xpressions
Commit

Technical Writing Courses

This page lists some technical communication courses available to writers in India. Please refer to the institute’s brochure for more information.

Note that the STC India Chapter has no first-hand knowledge of these courses and does not endorse them.

• Courses in India
• Courses abroad
• Online courses

Courses in India
Documentation Research and Training Center (DRTC) Bangalore
Indian Statistical Institute
8th Mile Mysore Road, RVCE Post
Bangalore 560 059

http://www.infolibrarian.com/asso.htm

IISc Proficience Continuing Education Program, Bangalore
The Registrar
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore 560 012
Tel: 91-80-3600411

http://www.iisc.ernet.in/

TechnoPoint, Bangalore
#1657, 1st Floor
10th Main
Jeevanbhima nagar Main Road
HAL IIIrd Stage
Bangalore-75
Tel No:080-25288086, 98453-16974

Technowrites, Pune

http://www.technowrites.com

S.A.International Limited
27, 7th Avenue
Ashok Nagar
Chennai-600 083

Write Concept
#301, “Sophia’s Choice”,
7/28, St. Mark’s Road,
Bangalore – 560 001.
Tel : +91-80-4112 0570 / 6530 8953
Cell : +91-98451 97130

IIT Delhi

http://www.iitd.ernet.in/acad/deptcntr/hss/courses.html

TASC Consulting Private Limited
D2/10 Khira Nagar, S.V. Road
Santacruz(W), Mumbai – 400 054, India.

http://www.tascindia.com

Courses Abroad:
Colorado State University – M. S. in Technical Communication
Journalism & Technical Communication
Center for Research on Writing & Communication Technologies
C-225 Clark Bldg.
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1785
Telephone 970-491-5674
Fax 970-491-2908
E-mail: Don.Zimmerman@ColoState.Edu

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/TJ/ms.htm

Online Courses
Sheffield Hallam University – M. A. in Technical Communication
MATComm course, Communication Studies
Sheffield Hallam Univesity
Mundella House, 34 Collegiate Crescent
Sheffield S10 2BP
Great Britain

http://www.shu.ac.uk/schools/cs/tc/home.html

Malaspina University-College
3960 Selkirk Ave.
Powell River, BC
V8A 3C6
604-485-8032
Tel: 1-877-888-8890
Fax: 604-485-2868
Email: Julie Clarke (clarkej@mala.bc.ca)
www.pr.mala.bc.ca

Be sure to read the article in the Huffington Post about the STC France Chapter’s Content Strategy Forum, held in collaboration with the TransAlpine Chapter and the Europe SIG. Developments in content strategy are also featured.

STC India is pleased to announce the results of the 2009 Salary Survey of Technical Communicators in India.

The report is available at STC India 2009 Salary Survey.

Thanks to everyone who responded to the survey back in Oct 2009.

Thanks to Paresh Naik for analyzing the survey data and preparing the report.

Please download it from here:

Instructional_Design_overview Chennai STC 27 Feb. 2010

Twelve Tips for Becoming a Successful Manager

1. Don’t try to be someone you are not.

The temptation is to emulate the previous manager. This is bad news as
you are not the previous manager, you are you.

Review of Managing Writers: A Real World Guide to Managing Technical
Documentation
Managing Writers: A Real World Guide to Managing Technical
Documentation
Richard L. Hamilton,
XML Press, Ft. Collins, CO 2009

Review by Jeannine M. E. Klein, Ph.D.

Aside from the 1996 classic Managing Your Documentation Projects by JoAnn Hackos and its 2006 update, Information Development: Managing Your Documentation Projects, Portfolio, and People, few books exist in the specialized niche where management meets technical writing.