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Suzette Leeming wondered: <<I'm interested in getting some feedback
from techwriters who have participated in STC telephone seminars. Can
you give me an idea of how they work (i.e., is it just talking over
the phone, or is there an online presentation happening
simultaneously?).>>
I've participated in a couple seminars, but both were "voice only";
I'm told that more recent ones are often "webinars", complete with
simultaneous visuals. The quality was variable, and (as is usual for
such things) depends both on the quality of the speaker and how well
the details of the topic match your specific needs. STC does try to
recruit people who have had good or excellent speaker ratings at past
annual conferences, so the quality tends to be at the higher end.
<<I'm also curious as to the value (perceived/real).>>
That depends largely on you. <g> But it's worth noting two things:
First, you do get to ask the speaker questions, and the answers to
specific questions are often more valuable than the more general
information that any presentation inevitably contains. Second, the
price to participate is "per location". That means if you participate
alone in your home office, you're paying the full price, and that may
not be a great value. But if you get together with 100 colleagues in
an auditorium, the cost becomes only a buck or two per person, and
even if the presentation is nothing special, that's a great value.
The more people that share the cost, the better the bargain.
Talk to your local STC chapter to ask if anyone is interested in
sharing a presentation with you. It can be a real bargain if the
logistics work out.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --
Geoff Hart ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca
(try geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com if you don't get a reply)
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