MA online and technical communication webinar - Nov 2011

MA Technical Communication MA Online Communication

Welcome to Sheffield Hallam University

Webinar outline

History Staff expertise Course content Student experience

Expertise in Communication Studies

BACS1970s MACS1980s MATC1990s MAEC2000s

Brief history

A suggestion from the Rolls Royce TC manager

MA ‘technical authorship’ created in 1991

Wider constituency: evolving TC role editors, translators content managers

Renamed MATC in 2001

Need for a different course: MAe-C (2001) Collaboration with

Computing Studies Renamed MAOC in

2007 Constituency

Intranet comms external web comms digital engagement

MA Technical Communication

MA Online Communication

Team background

A team of academics and ‘hybrids’ -professionals who are now teaching topics related to former work practices

MA

Prof N Williams

A-F Dujardin

Dr G Green

Dr M Beaken

D FarbeyDr K Edwards

K Burnett

J Gillin

C O’Toole

Course overview

Pg Certificate – 3 short modules and a year-long module

Pg Diploma – 3 short modules and a year-long module

Master’s –dissertation project

Pg Certificate year TC

Portfolio of reflective practice

Communication planning and

theory

Language and writing

Information design

Pg Certificate year OC

Portfolio of reflective practice

Corporate communicatio

n

Digital media and society

Social media use in orgs

Student background

Preferred A good Honours degree Relevant professional experience

Suitable Professional qualifications (eg professional

membership) Relevant professional experience

One thing students have in common a (long) gap since they studied formally no experience of online learning

Value of professional knowledge

There are three key sources of knowledge development on the MA course.

Different perspectives help you consider your practice in depth.

Tutors

Literature

Peers

The online learning experience

Online learning environment

Work practices

Reading

Work-based tasks

Own time and space

Social media use

Traditional media Social media

Group blogging Social

bookmarking Screencasting Micro-blogging

A new challenge

Mode of study

Level of study

Studying your practice and context

Managing time

Benefits of studying MA TC/OC Only online degrees of this kind in the

UK A sense of achievement and self-

validation: communication is an academic discipline

A widening of perspectives on professional communication

More aware of workplace practices (own and that of other workers in the same industry)

A distinctive CV!

Any questions or comments?

• Prospectushttp://www.shu.ac.uk/prospectus/

• Study fair (1st December) http://www.shu.ac.uk/ad/studyfair/

• Applicationhttp://www.shu.ac.uk/study/form.html

• Course leadera-f.dujardin@shu.ac.uk

Online information Online information

If you want to get started…

Denscombe, M. (2010) The Good Research Guide: For Small-scale Social Research Projects. Open University Press, 4th ed.

Windahl, S., Signitzer, B. & Olson, J.T. (2009) Using Communication Theory: an Introduction to Planned Communication. Sage.

Burnett, R.E.(2005) Technical Communication. Wadsworth, 6th ed.

Schriver, K.A. (1997) Dynamics in Document Design: Creating Texts for Readers. Wiley.

Denscombe, M. (2010) The Good Research Guide: For Small-scale Social Research Projects. Open University Press, 4th ed.

Windahl, S., Signitzer, B. & Olson, J.T. (2009) Using Communication Theory: an Introduction to Planned Communication. Sage.

Cornelissen, J (2008) Corporate Communication: A Guide to Theory and Practice. Sage, 2nd ed.

Ess, C. (2009) Digital Media Ethics. Polity

Donelan, H., Kear, K. and Ramage, M. (Eds.) (2009) Online Communica- tion and Collaboration: A Reader. Routledge.

MATC core readings MAOC core readings