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I'd recommend the "biggies": Word, of course, for word processing. If
you want to give them a taste of a real page layout application try
PageMaker or FrameMaker. PageMaker is great for small projects like
flyers, brochures, bulletins, newsletters, etc., while FrameMaker is
geared toward large complex technical manuals.
For graphics work (drawing), try Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator, or
Visio. For image editing, Adobe Photo Shop and Corel Photo Paint are the
best known, but a more affordable alternative is Paint Shop Pro. It's a
nice little app that will give your students a chance to develop some
basic image editing skills. (Actually, Corel Photo Paint comes bundled
with Corel Draw, so it's probably your best bet for an all around
graphics application.)
Hope this gives you some ideas. I'm sure others on the list will have
other suggestions.
Chris Welch-Hutchings
Sr. Technical Writer
Home Wireless Networks, Inc.
Norcross GA (USA)
cwhutchings -at- homewireless -dot- com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Christie Carr [SMTP:chrcarr -at- UMICH -dot- EDU]
> Sent: Friday, May 15, 1998 1:38 PM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: Technical Writer Education
>
> I am a Ph.D. student in business and technical communication who
> currently
> teaches technical communication in a traditional academic environment
> where
> the technology is limited and outdated. Because I spend the majority
> of my
> time in the classroom, I feel that I have begun to lose touch with the
> technology that is actually being used in the workplace. This being
> the
> case, I'm interested in learning more about specific software
> applications
> that graduates should be fluent in when they begin to pursue work as
> professional technical writers. Comments, recommendations and shopping
> lists would be extremely helpful, especially since we will soon have
> the
> funds constuct a dream instructional lab. So what components should
> comprise this ideal computer classroom?
>
>
> Sincerely,
> Robert Carr
> Wayne State University
> (734) 663-1557
> chrcarr -at- umich -dot- edu
>
> &^~~~
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