Journal of Business and Technical Communication Apr 2001

Usability Instruction in Technical Communication Programs: New Directions in Curriculum Development

Lee-Ann M. Kastman Breuch University of Minnesota System ; Mark Zachry Utah State University ; Clay Spinuzzi Texas Tech University

Abstract

Although usability testing and research have become critical tasks for technical communicators in the workplace, little discussion in technical communication focuses on teaching usability in technical communication programs. This article asserts that technical communication programs are particularly well positioned to adopt usability testing and research in their curricula because of inherent connections between usability and technical communication, such as their mutual emphases on audience analysis, technology, and information design. Approaches to implementation of usability courses at three universities are described, and the authors share suggestions for adopting usability in the areas of curriculum, equipment, and facilities needed for conducting usability.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
2001-04-01
DOI
10.1177/105065190101500204
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
teacher development technical communication
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (21)

  1. Anabire (2025)
    Using Social Media as a User-Centered Design Tool: Types of User Feedback Usefu…
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  2. Cosgrove (2023)
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  3. Jacobsen et al. (2023)
    Toward Integrated UX Instruction With Symbiotic Classrooms
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  4. Friess (2023)
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  5. Tham et al. (2022)
    Extending Design Thinking, Content Strategy, and Artificial Intelligence into T…
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  3. Tham et al. (2020)
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  4. Verhulsdonck et al. (2020)
    Creating Content That Influences People: Considering User Experience and Behavi…
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  5. Phillips (2019)
    Teaching Public, Scientific Controversy: Genetically Modified Mosquitoes in the…
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  6. Nielsen (2018)
    Exploring Transformative Usability in the Business and Professional Writing Classroom
    Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  7. Bartolotta et al. (2018)
    Engaging with online design: undergraduate user-participants and the practice-l…
    Communication Design Quarterly
  8. Rose et al. (2017)
    Making practice-level struggles visible: researching UX practice to inform pedagogy
    Communication Design Quarterly
  9. Acharya (2017)
    User value and usability in technical communication: a value-proposition design model
    Communication Design Quarterly
  10. Getto et al. (2016)
    Toward a Model of UX Education: Training UX Designers Within the Academy
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  11. Chong (2016)
    The Pedagogy of Usability: An Analysis of Technical Communication Textbooks, An…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  12. Bacabac (2015)
    Appropriating Invention Through Concept Maps in Writing for Multimedia and the Web
    Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  13. Youngblood (2013)
    Communicating Web Accessibility to the Novice Developer: From User Experience t…
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  14. Maylath et al. (2013)
    Managing Complexity: A Technical Communication Translation Case Study in Multil…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  15. McGovern (2007)
    Training Teachers and Serving Students: Applying Usability Testing in Writing P…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  16. Cooke et al. (2005)
    Connecting Usability Education and Research With Industry Needs and Practices
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication

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Show all 12 →
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CrossRef global citation count: 28 View in citation network → Build reading path →

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