Live Web Seminars

In addition to the STC Technical Communication Summit, the Society offers Web seminars. In a seminar, participants listen to the presenter over the phone (much like a conference call) while viewing presentation materials via the website.

This format provides easier access to materials for reference during the presentation, as well as a more intimate, "classroom" setting than the typical telephone seminar. Registrants are provided a toll-free number, a secure URL, and access to both the audio and online elements of the presentation.

Small Steps to Content Strategy

Neil Perlin

Tuesday, 5 June | 9:00–10:00 PM EDT (GMT-4)
(Note: PM, not AM)

Are you thinking about implementing a content strategy but not sure how to define it? Concerned about switching to new and unfamiliar (and possibly expensive) authoring tools? Worried about workflow changes and operational disruption? Staff turnover? This webinar looks at small steps that you can take to get started with a content strategy before spending money on new tools or adopting new methodologies.

Using Lessons Learned to Improve Effectiveness and Client Relations

Vic Passion

Wednesday, 6 June | 1:00–2:00 PM EDT (GMT-4)

For the last year, you’ve been working on a large project, creating materials to support your company’s new enterprise software package. You’ve piloted the materials, gathered feedback from users, and finalized the content, which is effective and well received. You and the team are proud of your efforts and ready—no, eager—to move on to a fresh new project.

Creating Help in a Wiki Environment

Tom Johnson

Thursday, 7 June | 4:00–5:00 PM EDT (GMT-4)

One advantage to working in a wiki environment is to enable collaboration among a community of users. Without this collaboration, wikis offer little more than ease of publishing. But how do you build a community of users? How do you invite intelligent edits and contributions to your growing body of wiki information? How do you communicate needs, coordinate tasks, and build publishing momentum across a wide swath of community contributors, each with different motivations and backgrounds? Most importantly, how do you persuade potential contributors to join your cause? This webinar will look at the dynamics of community and how to structure your efforts to encourage maximum contributions from community members.

Your Career Is Your Job

Linda Oestreich

Tuesday, 12 June | 9:00–10:00 PM EDT (GMT-4)
(Note: PM, not AM)

In this time of career turmoil and economic upset, how can we ensure that our careers progress and our professional development grows? What makes the difference between those who love their jobs and those who don’t? How can you find your bliss at work? Linda Oestreich will explore these topics and others with the participants of the webinar. Attend this webinar for a lively discussion and a few tools to help you find your own best path.

Simplify DITA Authoring with Constraints

Patrick Quinlan

Tuesday, 19 June | 9:00–10:00 PM EDT (GMT-4)
(Note: PM, not AM)

With the power and flexibility of the DITA standard comes many, many elements and attributes. Knowing which elements and attributes to use and in what situation can be confusing for new and experienced authors of DITA content. Join Patrick Quinlan from ditanauts.org as he provides an overview of constraints, demonstrates a freely available constraint plugin, and shows how to make changes to suit your organization.

Mobile Content Strategy

Karen McGrane

Thursday, 21 June | 4:00–5:00 PM EDT (GMT-4)

For years, we've been telling designers: the Web is not print. You can't have pixel-perfect layouts. You can't determine how your site will look in every browser, on every platform, on every device. We taught designers to cede control, think in systems, and embrace Web standards. So why are we still letting content authors plan for where their content will "live" on a Web page? Why do we give in when they demand a WYSIWYG text editor that works "just like Microsoft Word"? Worst of all, why do we waste time and money creating and recreating content instead of planning for content reuse? What worked for the desktop Web simply won't work for mobile. As our design and development processes evolve, our content workflow has to keep up. Karen will talk about how we have to adapt to creating more flexible content.