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A friend of mine has been advised to get a tech writing certificate from
the local university. However, his time and money is already invested in
an information design degree program which doesn't offer a tech writing
class.
Would he be at a great disadvantage if he simply takes an on-line tech
writing course via a university instead of pursuing a certificate?
And I reply:
"Info Design" is a hot buzzword, but without tech writing (A.K.A. "content
development"), where is the info designer going to get the info in the first
place?
I agree with Elna that your friend's objective determines the best course to
take. And if there's content development in his/her future, the course of
study should also include the technologies your friend expects to be writing
about. I can't speak to the quality of online technical writing courses.
There's too much variability in the courses and too broad a spectrum in tech
writing itself. I do think that anything that gets a person writing is good,
but "some animals are more equal than others." One certainty: tech writing
is not a spectator sport.
Marguerite
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