It's that time again!

I can't believe the summer has flown by. The fall semester started at CSUDH. Classes in technical writing and communication have started. I'm very excited to see new students' work. 

• To find out more about Dr. Kondor’s classes, click here
• See also the CSUDH online catalog

Classes Start for the Summer Session at CSUDH on June 1

Summer classes start at California State University Dominguez Hills on June 1! I'll be teaching the Advanced Technical Communication Course and the Information Design Course. Learn more about the certificate program here.

The Advanced Course and Information Design course are designed to create portfolio pieces that  challenge students, build technical writing skills, and create work that can be used to demonstrate proficiency for potential employers. The certificate program consists of 3 courses. Come check out the program at a fully accredited California University!

California State University Dominguez Hills Website 

Job Tools - Linkedin

I was talking with a student recently and they asked me about finding jobs. I think one of the most utilized job tools is Linkedin. Recruiters use it frequently as I have been contacted by them through Linkedin. I have found it valuable as a tool to show my skills but also to keep in contact with both past coworkers and students.

Some tips:

• Build at least 300 connections - both to help with contacts, skill verification, and knowledgebase
• Keep it up-to-date especially with your current job info
• Limit what people can see if they are not in your connection group and you are not looking for work
• Spend time and join relevant groups to your interests or post article
• Use it to lead to potential employers to own personal site or portfolio

There are other services but Linkedin is popular with many recruiters and human resource managers at organizations. Like any service it may not fit you perfectly so you have to take the time to learn what you want to show others and what you don't.

Dr. Lu Kondor is a Now a Blog Contributor at CSUDH

The faculty development center at the California State University Dominguez Hills has a new blog for faculty and Lu is currently a contributor for the blog series entitled, “The Challenge of Facilitating Successful Online Learning."

Let's Get Style...

One of my favorite things to do in my spare time (and you might find this amusing) is skim through my technical communication library and randomly read through sections of books. Not what everyone would call exciting but there you have it.

One book I really like is Developing Quality Technical Information by IBM Press. Now feel I need to say I have no vested interest in this book other than to use it as part of my favorite research. As I thumbed through this book as I do many times for ideas I opened it to the style section. This section reminded me how important style is even though we take it for granted almost everyday as a reader using manuals, newsletters, and task-based documents. The use of conventions, standards, rules, grammar, tone, and presentation allows the reader to follow a document and get what they need from it quickly and efficiently.

I know the APA (American Psychological Association) guide better than the back of my own hand from just sheer use. For the uninitiated this is a book by a respected body (institution if you will) that promotes a guideline of style for publications and business. Other examples of similar guides are the Chicago Manual of Style, the American Medical Association Manual of Style, or MLA (Modern Language Association). There are many more available as well. But beyond that, organizations want consistency with their documentation so even if you follow say the APA guide, you still will most likely have specific templates for departments and the organization itself. These style guidelines bring a sense of usability and effectiveness. I feel we are creatures of habit (all humans) and so we want to know what to expect especially if we are stressed out trying to find out how to do a particular task or find information, not how do I find this. We’ve come to expect and not think about a table of contents, index etc.

This isn’t to say that just because we’ve always done something a specific way we can’t change it. But in my opinion we should consider change carefully and incrementally unless there is some outstanding exception (no need to email me, there are always exceptions to every recommendation). While usability is very important, always be careful with organizational identity and how that is affected by changes in style. Remember an organization’s publications such as manuals or a website delivers information that a user expects from a product or company in a certain way. Part of our technical communication skill is not to disappoint them. 

Specialization in Technical Writing - Enroll To Take Advanced Technical Writing Course

Thinking about improving your writing skills in the New Year? Don't feel like getting the certificate but want to increase your knowledge but not sure if you have time?  You are going to be interested in the online Advanced Technical Writing course at California State University Dominguez Hills at the College of Extended and International Education. The whole certificate is available online if you don't live in SoCal. So why not try the advanced course if you aren't sure about the whole certificate? In the advanced course we work on pieces to build or enhance your portfolio.

To find out more about the schedule, click here.

Thoughts of school dreams and syllabus nightmares

This was going around CSUDH email yesterday - I thought it was interesting. It stimulated debate and commentary, which I love. Now let me start with this - truly my syllabi are long too, otherwise I am flooded with confused student questions. I started teaching before the electronic age and students have so many more questions now than 25 years ago regarding everything from file formats they can hand their work in to electronic libraries all Universities now have. 

Many are returning students who remember older ways of learning and are confused by the integration of new technologies. I also like to mention that an aging school population knows what it wants from a class. I understand that sentiment, I received my doctorate a few years ago, having returned a number of years after my last masters degree.

Don't get me wrong, I like to answer questions and do as quickly as possible. But students may not be able to wait for an answer especially if they are working at the last minute late at night. Many could say students shouldn't wait that long, but the reality is today quite a few students can't help it. I also worked full time while I went back to school and from personal experience, so many students I have do just that with a need to balance their lives. Students need to work on classwork when it fits them and providing a tool that helps them work is just that, a tool. I do think that most syllabi are long today but it is a sign of the times that we are trying to define information (including required information by the University) by providing as much info. as possible, as quickly as possible.

I recommend with a syllabus including keywords in the document so when a student searches, they find what they want. If possible keep everything in sections together regarding similar information. I am contemplating on my next updated syllabus to include a click-able table of contents at the top. Worth it if you syllabus is over 5 pages.

The good? They are PDF files you can search instead of reading word for word. Like everything else today, most readers skim & scan. When you have questions as a student, why not have the info at your finger tips?

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/education/2014/08/college_course_syllabi_they_re_too_long_and_they_re_a_symbol_of_the_decline.html