Technical Communications and Instructional Design

It’s all in the family, so what’s the difference?

STC Meeting May 17, 2001Kim Lambdin, M.Ed.

Technical Communications

Technical communications & technical writing ...“…the process of creating, designing, and

transmitting technical information so that people can understand it easily & use it safely, effectively, & efficiently.” (pg. 2)

– It’s practical, communicates a body of information that will help an audience understand a subject or carry out a task

Addresses particular readers

Technical Communications (disseminating information)

Helps readers solve problems

Furthers organizational goals

Involves high tech tools

Uses design to increase readability/usability

Involves words and graphics

Technical Communicators What do technical

communicators do?– Write documents:

• manuals, proposals, reports, sales literature, letters, journal articles, speeches, write policies & procedures

Work closely with marketing, legal, design engineers, to create user friendly products

Ability to communicate Analytical skills, organizational skills Writing skills Technical skills Project Management Patience & perseverance

Technical Communicators: Core Competencies

Instructional Design What is instructional design?

– A methodology for planning, developing, evaluating & managing the instructional process based on what we know about learning theories, information technology, systematic analysis & management methods

– ID considers cognitive styles• Styles describe a person's typical mode of

thinking, remembering or problem solving.

Instruction Design ID considers …

– instruction from learner’s perspective rather than content

– learner’s current skill set

– clearly stated objectives

– most appropriate teaching/learning method

– evaluation/revision

Analyze

Instructional Design (focus on learning)

Dick & Carey “ADDIE R” model

Design

Develop

Implement

Evaluate

ReviseFrom this high level view, can this model be applied to technical communications?

What do instructional designers do? Identify instructional problems Examine learner characteristics Identify subject content & analyze task

components related to stated goals & purposes

State instructional objectives for learners Develop evaluations to assess objectives &

measure behavior changes

Instructional Designers: Core Competencies Ability to do a needs assessment & task analysis Ability to perform an audience analysis Identify & write instructional goals, objectives Design materials aligned with goals & objectives Develop formative & summative evaluations Measure knowledge & behavior gains Revise as necessary

Needs AssessmentWhere should you be going? Needs = gaps in results,

consequences or accomplishments

A needs assessment identifies gaps between current results & desired results

Prioritize the needs Select the most important

ones

Audience/Learner Analysis skills

Identify characteristics descriptive of the target group, (no stereotypes)

Identify specific entry behaviors & skills required to begin instruction (the building blocks)

Task/Instructional Analysis Analyze the domains -

job & subject area What are the relevant

tasks & responsibilities for each area?

What tasks constitute competent performance for each subject/content area?

Identify/Write Objectives A precise statement of what the learner

should be able to do after instruction Objectives serve as input

documentation for the designer Behavioral & performance objectives

terminal objectives (all synonyms) – A terminal objective is an instructional goal

converted to a behavioral goal

Instructional Strategies/Tactics

The methods of

instruction to enhance

learning

Designing materials &

delivery methods

aligned w/course goals

Select the optimal

strategies & media

Formative & Summative Evaluations Formative - a checking process during

& at the end of the development of instructional materials

Summative - looks beyond design objective to overall worthwhile “ness” of the instruction to the organization or learner – Measures long term effectiveness

Writing skills

User friendly design

Audience Analysis

Project Management

Technical tools

Investigative

Refine/Revise

All in the familyTechnical Writing

Write docs to provide info

End User perspective

Focus on usabilityusability testing

Synthesizes,disseminatesinformation

Instructional Design

Write docs to instruct

Learner’s perspective

Behavioral Objectives

Measure knowledgegains/behavior change