The First Weeklong Technical Writers’ Institute and Its Impact

Journal of Business and Technical Communication Oct 2009

The First Weeklong Technical Writers’ Institute and Its Impact

Merrill D. Whitburn Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Abstract

Rensselaer’s Technical Writers’ Institute, the first program of its kind, had a profound impact on technical communication. It enabled technical communicators without formal education in the field to gain important knowledge, provided a forum for communicators from different industries to meet in order to solve mutual problems, played a key role in defining the field and its needs, encouraged recruitment (including the hiring of more women), promoted professional societies and formal degree programs, and seriously affected industry training programs by enabling them to use institute teaching materials. Knowledge gained through the Technical Writers’ Institute enabled Rensselaer to develop many other innovations.

Journal: Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published: 2009-10-01
DOI: 10.1177/1050651909338801
Open Access: Closed
Topics: technical communication affect and writing

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Cites in this index (3)

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Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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Also cites 1 work outside this index ↓

Longo, B. (2000)

Spurious coin: A history of science, management, and technical Writing

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