TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Matthew Craver said:
>Most colleges do not teach research or analysis skills,
>whether they are "hard" or "soft". If colleges did teach these skills
>to the majority of their students, politics and advertising would never
>be the same <g>!
I will hold my tongue on politicians, but there is certainly not much
advertising out there attempting to appeal to an audience with good
research or analysis skills. In fact, it occurs to me that many of us
perhaps developed our opinions about various colleges based upon
reputation or marketing or tradition or emotion . . . rather than based
upon research or analysis.
And let me offer this definition of "technical" - one who has the
*ability* to learn the technology of what is being documented (whether
it's software, financial processes, a reclining chair, or whatever). I
agree with those who have stated that what a person has learned in the
past, and what degree they may have earned, are much less relevant than
what they are capable of learning today.
Richard Cook
CDS Software
cook-richard -at- cdssoftware -dot- com
