Re: A disturbing trend?

[Helen Hegelheimer <hxh -at- FORMTEK -dot- COM>]

List Members -

I apologize for "shooting from the mouth".  Of course a discussion on
Certification is appropriate on this list.

I was more concerned about the comments that people were taking technical
communication courses to "retain their unemployment insurance benefits" and
the implication (at least thats the way I read it) that Junior College
Certificate programs were of no apparent use.

After 10 years as a technical writer here in Silicon Valley, I took one
of those JC Certificate Programs.  I was impressed with how much I learned
and how much my writing improved because of those couses.  My fellow
students held impressive degrees in other fields and were either in
career transition or justing wanting to hone their skills as I was.

Now, I'll go back to my lurking and think twice before I post again....

Helen Hegelheimer
hxh -at- formtek -dot- com


 **********************************

> Helen,

> What list could possibly be more appropriate for discussing standards
> for a "Certificate in Technical Writing" than this one? I think the
> concerns here are valid and timely. I, too, taught technical writing
> at a state university and found the students ill-prepared for college
> composition, much less the demands of technical writing. If the
> standards are lowered for certification, then it means nothing. We
> must all take notice of this "disturbing trend" for our own sakes.
> ............................................................................
>  Jane Bergen
>  Technical Writer
>  janeb -at- answersoft -dot- com   or   janeb -at- computek -dot- net
>     "The difference between the right word and the almost right word
>      is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug" (Mark Twain)
> ............................................................................
>>
> Helen Hegelheimer wrote:

> > I find this thread a "disturbing trend"..... seems the two of you might
> > discuss this back channel or perhaps on another list that is more
 appropriate.
> >
> > Helen Hegelheimer
> > hxh -at- formtek -dot- com
> >
> > >
> > > >  This observation may not mean anything, but I was disturbed by
> > > >  it nonetheless. Mom H. is teaching a course on communications skills to
> > > >  a group of techwhirler wannabes (mild pejorative) who are taking
> > > >  the course to retain their unemployment insurance benefits. However,
> > > >  few of the students seem capable of writing beyond the (charitably)
> > > >  high school level. I have the nasty suspicion that the
> > > >  provincial government, which sponsors the course, doesn't seem to
> > > >  think that you need to know how to write to be a techwhirler. Hmmm...
> > >
> > > I am in California and have seen the same thing. A local junior college
>  offers
> > > a Certificate in Technical Writing after the completion of four writing
> > > courses. As a student in the last three courses, I've seen writing that my
>  (snip, snip)


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