Module Code - Title:
TW5212
-
Workplace Issues in Technical and Professional Communication
Year Last Offered:
2023/4
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
To develop an awareness of the social context in which technical and professional communicators work, and the responsibilities associated with the provision of content, considered from ethical and legal perspectives;
To develop students' awareness of group, interpersonal, intercultural, and non-verbal communication;
To develop students' ability to conduct interviews with technical experts;
To develop students understanding of structure authoring.
To develop students' online information design skills.
Syllabus:
Ethical issues in professional communication; codes of practice; legal issues (consumer protection, patent, copyright, trademarks, trade secrets, contract).
Trends in technical communication.
Communication models; communication problems; non-verbal communication; intercultural communication; interviewing skills; presentation and listening skills.
Structured authoring, with a focus on XML.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Discuss group, interpersonal, intercultural, and non-verbal communication.
Describe the social context in which professional communicators work, and the responsibilities associated with the provision of communication, considered from ethical and legal perspectives.
Apply their knowledge of intellectual property law to their work.
Create structured texts.
Interview a professional technical communication.
Write a professional report.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Share resources.
Participate in online and face-to-face discussions.
Relate their experience of interviewing a professional writer to their career goals.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
This module is taught in on-campus and online modes.
In the on-campus version, students attend lectures and tutorials.
Lectures introduce and discuss key concepts and readings, and tutorials focus on preparation for interviewing, communication skills, presentation skills, and report writing.
In the distance learning version, students use the VLE to access lecture podcasts, and learning objects, and to collaborate online and submit work. The module incorporates graduate attributes by building knowledge, making students aware of their responsibility as communicators, and foregrounding an articulate writing style.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Markel, Mike (2012)
Technical Communication (10th edition)
, Bedford/St. Martin's
Cowan, Charles (2008)
XML in Technical Communication
, ISTC
Quinn, Michael (2009)
Ethics for the Information Age (4th edition)
, Pearson
Weiss, Edmund (2001)
The Elements of International English
, ME Sharpe
Other Relevant Texts:
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
Semester - Year to be First Offered:
Spring
Module Leader:
Yvonne.Cleary@ul.ie