Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Oct 2010

Resisting the Lure of Technology-Driven Design: Pedagogical Approaches to Visual Communication

Kathryn M. Northcut Missouri University of Science and Technology ; Eva R. Brumberger

Abstract

Technical communicators are expected to work extensively with visual texts in workplaces. Fortunately, most academic curricula include courses in which the skills necessary for such tasks are introduced and sometimes developed in depth. We identify a tension between a focus on technological skill vs. a focus on principles and theory, arguing that we subvert the potential benefits of an education if we succumb to the allure of software. We recommend several classroom practices that help educate students toward greater visual literacy, based not only on recommendations from the research but also from our experience as teachers of visual communication.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2010-10-01
DOI
10.2190/tw.40.4.f
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Closed
Topics
writing pedagogy technical communication multimodality literacy studies
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (11)

  1. Robledo et al. (2025)
    Critical and Creative Quantum Literacies
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Sonnenberg et al. (2024)
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  3. Tham et al. (2023)
    Examining Multimodal Community-Engaged Projects for Technical and Professional …
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  4. Terry (2023)
    Entwining interactive fiction with technical writing to develop structured auth…
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  5. DeTora et al. (2023)
    Introduction to the Special Issue on Visual Communication and Visual Literacy (…
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  1. Santee (2023)
    Cartographic Literacy can Support Social Change Approaches in Technical Communi…
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  2. Davis et al. (2022)
    Writing infrastructure with the fabric of digital life platform
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  3. Watts (2020)
    Using Adapted Studio Critique to Teach Peer Review in the Document Design Classroom
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  4. Duin et al. (2019)
    Cultivating code literacy: course redesign through advisory board engagement
    Communication Design Quarterly
  5. Hovde et al. (2017)
    Technological Literacy: A Framework for Teaching Technical Communication Softwa…
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  6. Colombini et al. (2017)
    Integrating Quantitative Literacy into Technical Writing Instruction
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References (23) · 10 in this index

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    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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CrossRef global citation count: 18 View in citation network → Build reading path →

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