Key Concept Archive

For more information about how our library science background (and our love of all things metadata) guides the way we catalog information, see the Techcomm and Arbortext Resources page.

Building and Sustaining A TechComm Career

Want to learn what it takes to work – and thrive – in your career? We’ve got a presentation for that! Come hear strategies that have helped guide a 45-year career that even a pandemic can’t slow down.   John has worked for companies large and small, climbed the ladder from noob to…

The Interplay of UX and Technical Communication

User experience includes every interaction people have with a company and its products…from opening the box to using the product. When using an app to interact with a product, the visual and written content must work together seamlessly to deliver a simple and delightful experience. In this presentation, we’ll learn…

Secrets of a gumshoe librarian: Tips for transforming your career and staying relevant

Is your career ready for a makeover? Have you been forced into making a change? Client and employer needs evolve, and we should too. But no one wakes up and just decides to upend their career, because change can be hard and sometimes scary. In this session, Marcy Phelps shares…

Technology that solves the top technical problems for presenters (My Presenter’s Tech Kit)

b Post Summary Updated: 2018-12This post details what is in my Presenter’s Tech Travel Kit. As a frequent presenter, I want to be prepared for any situation and I want it to always work. Ultimately, I’m responsible for solving any technical problems for presenters that arise because of the device I choose to travel…

Industry Trends in Technical Communications 2018

As we close out the year, I’ve written up Industry Trends in Technical Communications we’ve seen in 2018. I don’t believe we should seek out or follow trends. Observations about trends are useful to see what other people are doing and to get a peek at what might be ahead for us….

From Open Source Volunteer to Full-Time Tech Writer

In this talk, Gale describes a little bit about what open source software is and how she used her volunteer experience as an Apache Taverna committer to become a technical writer at Facebook. She describes the tangible and intangible skills she gained, as well as how she got noticed when…

Top 3 Things a Presenter (and Booth Staffer) Needs on the Road

Updated: 2018-07 – I found an even better booth bag. It’s conference season and that means many of us who present frequently are on the road at some point in the next few months. For me, the season starts with a 9-day trip that begins at STC Spectrum and ends…

The Art of Personal Branding: How to Tell the YOU Story and Gain New Customers

If you want someone to hire you or your company, you need to be able to tell your story: who you are, what your plan is, and what defines you. There are key points to address at each point in the story in order to gain customers. Whether you’re the…