Online Teaching and Accessibility in a Pandemic

Speaker: Audrey Blumeneau

About the presentation

The COVID-19 Pandemic changed our lives, jobs, and routines in so many ways. In the world of education, teachers moved mountains to pivot from in-classroom instruction to fully online practically overnight. Over the past couple of years, faculty have become quite adept and creative with providing lectures and assessments to an online environment. One of the overarching challenges (among many) was/is ensuring that all content complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. I will discuss some of the issues and challenges and how we are working to ensure that all students are provided equal access to learning content.

About the speaker

Audrey Blumeneau, M.Ed., has been teaching digital media and web design in higher education for over 20 years at institutions such as University of California, Santa Cruz Extension, Cabrillo College and at San José City College. She is the Distance Education Coordinator at San José City College working with faculty on online pedagogy, content delivery and accessibility. 

Event Info

Time: Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at 6:30 PM Pacific

Location: Zoom

Program:
6:30 to 7:00: Networking
7:00 to 7:25: Announcements
7:30 to 8:30: Presentation
8:30 to 8:45: More networking
~ 8:45: End the Zoom meeting

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82414326338

Meeting ID: 824 1432 6338
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Meeting ID: 824 1432 6338
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kQKmupVX8

Important notes:

  • Members of other chapters welcomed. If you belong to another STC chapter, you can attend our meetings.
  • IABC members welcome. All members of the San Francisco Chapter of the IABC are welcome to register for Berkeley STC General Meetings.
  • Non-members can attend. You don’t have to be a member to attend our meetings.
  • Tell us if you’re hiring or job-hunting. Attendees are encouraged to announce open positions or to announce that they are searching for work. Feel free to bring job listings, resumes, or business cards for distribution.

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So let it be written…

Speaker: Steve Harang

About the presentation

Technical program managers (TPMs) keep technical programs on track. If you want to write good documentation without last-minute surprises, if you want to get the information you need when you need it, if you want timely reviews — build a good relationship with your TPM.  Steve will tell us how tech writers and TPMs work together in the software industry.

About the speaker

Steve Harang is a Technical Program Manager with over 10 years of experience working with SaaS companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. He’s currently managing a team of TPMs at Skyflow, a company dedicated to ensuring that private data is stored and utilized safely and securely. He’s previously managed software programs at LinkedIn and Box.

Event Info

Time: Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at 6:30 PM Pacific

Location: Zoom

Program:
6:30 to 7:00: Networking
7:00 to 7:25: Announcements
7:30 to 8:30: Presentation
8:30 to 8:45: More networking
~ 8:45: End the Zoom meeting

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82414326338

Meeting ID: 824 1432 6338
One tap mobile
+14086380968,,82414326338# US (San Jose)
+16699006833,,82414326338# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 824 1432 6338
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kQKmupVX8

Important notes:

  • Members of other chapters welcomed. If you belong to another STC chapter, you can attend our meetings.
  • IABC members welcome. All members of the San Francisco Chapter of the IABC are welcome to register for Berkeley STC General Meetings.
  • Non-members can attend. You don’t have to be a member to attend our meetings.
  • Tell us if you’re hiring or job-hunting. Attendees are encouraged to announce open positions or to announce that they are searching for work. Feel free to bring job listings, resumes, or business cards for distribution.

Posted in Events | Tagged | Comments Off on So let it be written…

The Future of Tech Comm: Structured Authoring, The Internet of Things, and Documentation 4.0 

Speaker: Jack Molisani

A Joint Presentation of the San Francisco Bay and SoCal Chapters of STC

About the presentation

In many companies, various forms of content are created and maintained by different departments, often using different authoring tools. Even a single documentation team can have multiple manuals that need to be updated every time there is a product change. This leads to content inconsistencies, duplicate effort, and a less-than-ideal content experience.

In this session, companies can move product content in a content management system (CMS). This enables content teams to create content once, then deliver that content when the reader needs it, in the language the reader needs, and formatted for the device on which they are reading it.

Finally, I’ll show how integrating a CMS with other enterprise systems can not only improve the user experience, but can also change your documentation teams from cost centers to revenue-generating profit centers.

Want to see how you can increase you sphere of influence and help your company generate more revenue? Don’t miss this session!

About the speaker

Jack Molisani is an STC Fellow, and the President of ProSpring Technical Staffing, an employment agency specializing in content professionals (both contract and perm): https://ProspringStaffing.com

He’s also the author of Be The Captain of Your Career: A New Approach to Career Planning and Advancement, which hit #5 on Amazon’s Career and Resume Best Seller list.

Jack also produces The LavaCon Conference on Content Strategy and TechComm Management, which will be in-person in New Orleans in October: https://LavaCon.org

Jack will give one lucky attendee a free in-person entrance to LavaCon as a door prize, so stay until the end of the session!

Event Info

Time: Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at 6:30 PM Pacific

Location: Zoom

Program:
6:30 to 7:00: Networking
7:00 to 7:25: Announcements
7:30 to 8:30: Presentation
8:30 to 8:45: More networking
~ 8:45: End the Zoom meeting

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82414326338

Meeting ID: 824 1432 6338
One tap mobile
+14086380968,,82414326338# US (San Jose)
+16699006833,,82414326338# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 824 1432 6338
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kQKmupVX8

Important notes:

  • Members of other chapters welcomed. If you belong to another STC chapter, you can attend our meetings.
  • IABC members welcome. All members of the San Francisco Chapter of the IABC are welcome to register for Berkeley STC General Meetings.
  • Non-members can attend. You don’t have to be a member to attend our meetings.
  • Tell us if you’re hiring or job-hunting. Attendees are encouraged to announce open positions or to announce that they are searching for work. Feel free to bring job listings, resumes, or business cards for distribution.

Posted in Events | Tagged | Comments Off on The Future of Tech Comm: Structured Authoring, The Internet of Things, and Documentation 4.0 

Writing for The Future: Content Over Context 

Speaker: Curtiss Pope

About the presentation

How writing, from technical to content writing is currently shaped, targeted, and distributed, and how the future of writing, may not be writing.

About the speaker

I was born and raised in the Bay Area. Formerly, I was the founder of a startup in the mobile retail space. Once it was acquired, I had the opportunity to work with and lead technical teams at great brands like Google, Gap, Old Navy, Verizon, HuffPo, Yahoo, Allstate, Kaiser Permanente, Stanford, and PG&E in the spaces of mobile/web, UX, innovation, and digital transformation. Daily I use all of my skills ( Technical, UX, Coaching) to move technology and initiatives forward, however, I can add value. New technologies, and innovative user experiences, drive me. Uncharted territory is my favorite place to go. I believe that an optimistic attitude and a willingness to have a “beginner” mindset can take you far. I love drinking tea (and sometimes coffee), and this past year, I have really been enjoying rowing. My other hobbies are reading any comic book I can get my hands on, helping startups, and sewing.

Event Info

Time: Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at 6:30 PM Pacific

Location: Zoom

Program:
6:30 to 7:00: Networking
7:00 to 7:25: Announcements
7:30 to 8:30: Presentation
8:30 to 8:45: More networking
~ 8:45: End the Zoom meeting

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82414326338

Meeting ID: 824 1432 6338
One tap mobile
+14086380968,,82414326338# US (San Jose)
+16699006833,,82414326338# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 824 1432 6338
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kQKmupVX8

Important notes:

  • Members of other chapters welcomed. If you belong to another STC chapter, you can attend our meetings.
  • IABC members welcome. All members of the San Francisco Chapter of the IABC are welcome to register for Berkeley STC General Meetings.
  • Non-members can attend. You don’t have to be a member to attend our meetings.
  • Tell us if you’re hiring or job-hunting. Attendees are encouraged to announce open positions or to announce that they are searching for work. Feel free to bring job listings, resumes, or business cards for distribution.

Posted in Events | Tagged | Comments Off on Writing for The Future: Content Over Context 

Usability and Technical Writing: A 30-year Perspective

Speaker: Nicki Davis

About the presentation

Technical writing is a solution; what problem are we trying to solve?

Our goal is to make it easier for people to use a product to get something done. Usability testing is one of the tools we can use to achieve this goal. In this presentation, Nicki will describe:

  • How the role of technical writer has changed from writing 400-page user manuals to working with designers to craft UI text.
  • Helpful hints for planning and executing usability tests.

About the speaker

Nicki Davis wrote her first user manual in 1980, two years before she earned her PhD in chemistry. She has been a member of STC since 1983 and currently serves as the Secretary of the San Francisco Bay chapter.

In 2015, Nicki was honored as an STC Associate Fellow.

Event Info

Time: Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at 6:30 PM Pacific

Location: Zoom

Program:
6:30 to 7:00: Networking
7:00 to 7:25: Announcements
7:30 to 8:30: Presentation
8:30 to 8:45: More networking
~ 8:45: End the Zoom meeting

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82414326338

Meeting ID: 824 1432 6338
One tap mobile
+14086380968,,82414326338# US (San Jose)
+16699006833,,82414326338# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 824 1432 6338
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kQKmupVX8

Important notes:

  • Members of other chapters welcomed. If you belong to another STC chapter, you can attend our meetings.
  • IABC members welcome. All members of the San Francisco Chapter of the IABC are welcome to register for Berkeley STC General Meetings.
  • Non-members can attend. You don’t have to be a member to attend our meetings.
  • Tell us if you’re hiring or job-hunting. Attendees are encouraged to announce open positions or to announce that they are searching for work. Feel free to bring job listings, resumes, or business cards for distribution.

Posted in Events | Comments Off on Usability and Technical Writing: A 30-year Perspective