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IA TPW

Information Architect

IA TPW Certification

Information Architecture, Usability, Web, Experience Design

Specialization

Interdisciplinary Programs—Information Architecture & Design

Certification: IA Technical & Professional Writing, IA TPW
( Technical & Professional Writing ); equivalent to BATPW

IA TPW Certification, Technical & Professional Writing.pdf

Concentration

The Technical & Professional Writing ( IA TPW ) Certification was supplemental to the IA MAEd graduate-level program ( Technical & Professional Writing major; in conjunction with IA & Design major ).

The IA TPW program covered practical courses and excellent hands-on rigorous vocational training relevant to Information Architecture (IA), User Experience Design, Interaction Design, Project Management.

Professors that teach in the program work professionally in technical writing and related fields.

The concentration provided a vocational Certification in Technical & Professional Writing, with an emphasis in Information Architecture and Usability Testing.

University Graduate—Accomplishments

IA TPW ( Technical & Professional Writing ) Certification ( 2005 )

Equivalent to BATPW

IA TPW Major

Technical & Professional Writing major

Information Architecture & Design major

IA TPW Final Project

IA TPW Portfolio ( 160 pp. ); required for graduation

IA TPW Presentation

IA TPW About IA TPW Portfolio; passed review

Experience from IA & Technical Writing Internships

Successfully completed; letters of recommendations;

about certification programs.pdf

Portfolios

Technical writing, editing, document design, IA, design,

usability testing; required for graduation

Rigorous IA Technical & Professional Writing Programs

A most rigorous, demanding, and challenging graduate-level

program, encompassing both Information Architecture & Design,

including Technical & Professional Writing.

Excellent hands-on, vocational training—IA, UXD, PM skills.

College of Education, Instructional Technologies

College of Humanities, Technical & Professional Writing

Focus

Technical writers communicate Information Architecture and design concepts to clients in written reports—all aspects and components of Information Architecture documentation—mapping and diagramming.

Other components for Corporate Training and Instructional Design require technical writing as well as Information Architecture, including usability testing.

Certificate of Excellence

In announcing the award, the CCCC stated that:

The San Francisco State University Technical and Professional Writing Program was cited for its excellent work, successfully demonstrating that their program meets the following criteria:

Uses current best practices in the field; uses effective, ongoing assessment and placement procedures; models diversity and/or serves diverse communities; has appropriate class size.

The San Francisco State University program was noted for its cohesive curriculum of upper division coursework, integrating theory and applied studies; its contextualized and ethical application of technology; its portfolio and internship-based assessment; and its attention to issues of diversity.

San Francisco State University is the only University in California that offers undergraduate-level degree in Technical & Professional Writing.

http://www.sfsu.edu/~tpw

http://www.stc-sf.org/newsletter/2005-feb/tpw.html

Technical Writing & Information Architecture

The TPW curriculum covers technical and professional writing, work-place writing forms, methods, and issues.

The TPW program includes interdisciplinary electives that further develop related communications skills in technical and professional writing, nurturing professional attitudes.

Technical & Professional Writing Skills

Core skills, in the TPW program, provide solid foundational skills in technical and professional writing and other interdisciplinary electives paramount to Information Architecture as well as design, including:

Fundamentals of technical and professional writing;

Professional editing and grammar for technical writing;

Desktop publishing for professional writers (Adobe Creative Suite);

Individual and team writing, including extensive writing projects;

Graphic design, typography;

Information Architecture, usability testing;

FrameMaker, document design; and

Hands-on vocational training (in technical writing, Information Architecture, usability testing), and work experience in technical and professional writing.

Vocational Training & Internships

Practical work experience was gained from several internships and completion of various projects.

University Programs

Unlike many other extension programs, the degree in technical and professional writing is a professional program that prepares writers for employment at corporations.

The TPW Certification is equivalent to BATPW.

The TPW program at The University is rated as a high-quality program that delivers rigorous training to professional writers. It is also highly regarded in the professional community—in San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Other skills are taught via the skills electives as well as subject matter focus. My other focus was in graphic design, typography, and Information Architecture.

IA TPW Portfolio

Portfolio: TOC, Technical & Professional Writing Portfolio 3.pdf

Portfolio: Annotated Technical & Professional Writing Portfolio 3.pdf

Portfolio: Technical & Professional Writing Portfolio 3.pdf (160 pp.)

IA TPW Required Learning Materials Technical Writing Books

Information Architect &
Technical Writing Skills

IA Expert

IA Process

IA Components

Research Skills

IA research,

IA technical writing,

IA plan design reports,

IXD design plan reports,

Extensive IA, IXD case studies,

Extensive Website audits,

Extensive IA heuristic evaluations,

PM design plan reports,

Instructional design (ADDIE Model) plan reports,

Needs assessment plan reports,

Usability testing plan reports,

Personas,

User scenarios,

Use case scenarios,

Interactive script writing,

Mapping,

Diagramming, and

Wire frame mockups (annotated).

Information Architect &
Report Writing Skills

Abstracts,

Executive summaries,

White papers,

Feasibility reports,

Standard operating procedures,

Learning materials, and

Curriculum plans.

Information Architect &
TPW Core Skills

Information Architecture,

Project management,

Heuristic evaluations,

Usability testing,

Fundamentals of technical and professional writing,

Advanced topics in technical writing (individual, team writing),

Professional editing for technical writers,

Document design for technical writers, and

Desktop publishing for technical writers.

Information Architect &
Computing Technology Skills

QuarkXPress,

InDesign,

Photoshop,

ImageReady,

Illustrator,

FreeHand,

Flash,

Fireworks,

Dreamweaver,

CSS,

BBEdit,

FrameMaker,

Visio,

OmniGraffle,

Inspiration,

MS Word,

MS Office,

MS Project,

OmniPlan, and

Word processing.

Information Architect &
Design Skills

Information Architecture,

Website design and management,

Information design,

Signage design,

Graphic design,

Illustrations,

Collage design,

Applied graphic design,

Graphic reproduction technology, and

Typography.

Professional Writing Skills

Books,

Manuals,

Manuscripts,

Reports,

Marketing materials,

Learning materials,

Press releases,

Press kits,

Brochures,

Newsletters,

Tutorials, and

Online tutorials.

University Accreditation

Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC-ACSCU)

Letter of Recommendation—Excellent Review

For Steven Heitman, Technical Writer, Project Manager

“He project managed his teammates developing timelines and project scopes for each of the deliverables: a brochure, press kit, and online tutorial. As a technical writer, he interviewed community members, wrote, edited, and designed our marketing materials…. He was always on time for meetings and participated at a professional level. I found him to be a mature individual, self-starter and able to do the work as a technical writer, editor, project manager.”

Mr. Alfredo Pedroza
Supervisor
ParkScan Technical Services
Outreach Coordinator

IA ID&T