Technical Communication

The Technical Editing Best Practices micro-credential provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practices of technical editing, equipping learners with the skills needed to refine and enhance technical documents for diverse professional audiences. Through hands-on exercises, real-world case studies and collaborative workshops, students will learn how to identify and address common issues in technical writing, from structural inconsistencies to stylistic challenges. By the end of this program, learners will have the confidence to transform complex, technical content into polished, professional documents that meet the highest standards of clarity, accuracy and usability. 

Learning Outcomes:

• Develop and apply editing principles, including structural, stylistic and copyediting to improve clarity, accuracy and coherence in technical documents.
• Evaluate and refine documents for usability, readability and accessibility, ensuring they meet the needs of the intended audience.
• Apply style guides, formatting standards and industry-specific conventions to maintain consistency and professionalism across documents.
• Produce constructive editorial feedback and collaborate with writers and stakeholders to achieve high-quality technical documentation.

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Designed for technical communicators/writers, engineers, documentation specialists and content creators, this micro-credential provides hands-on experience with AI tools that not only streamline documentation workflows, improve content accuracy and generate insights but also help automate structured content creation and maintain compliance with standards and guides. Students will learn best practices for integrating AI into content development while ensuring human oversight for precision, reliability and security, as well as evaluate AI-generated content for clarity, consistency and user focus. This course prepares participants to navigate AI advancements in technical writing with a focus on industry-specific applications.

Learning outcome(s):

Upon completion of this micro-credential, learners will be able to:

• Analyze the capabilities and limitations of AI-driven content generation, structured authoring and technical editing tools in creating, editing and managing technical documentation.
• Develop strategies for incorporating AI into structured authoring frameworks (technical writing processes, including drafting, editing and generating visuals or data visualizations), content reuse strategies and documentation automation.
• Apply AI tools to enhance consistency, terminology management and compliance with industry-specific documentation standards while maintaining human oversight and control.
• Evaluate AI-generated technical content for precision, readability, regulatory compliance and adherence to documentation best practices, ensuring the final product adheres to professional, ethical and safety standards.

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The User Experience (UX) for Technical Communicators micro-credential equips learners with the skills to create intuitive, user-friendly and accessible technical content that meets the needs of diverse audiences. Combining foundational UX principles with hands-on design techniques, learners will learn how to structure, format and present information for maximum usability and readability. From incorporating accessibility standards to conducting usability testing, this micro-credential provides the tools and knowledge to craft documentation that not only communicates effectively but also enhances the user experience. Whether you're creating manuals, guides or digital interfaces, this micro-credential will prepare learners to bridge the gap between technical content and end-users with clarity and precision. 

Upon completion of this micro-credential, learners will be able to:

• Develop an understanding of user-centered design principles and how they apply to creating intuitive, accessible and effective documentation.
• Learn techniques to organize and present information using layout, typography, visuals and navigation tools that enhance user engagement and comprehension.
• Demonstrate skills to design documentation that meets accessibility guidelines, ensuring inclusivity for diverse audiences, including those with disabilities.
• Assess methods to test and evaluate documentation for usability and user satisfaction, making iterative improvements based on feedback.

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In technical environments, precise and audience-focused communication is critical to ensuring understanding, safety, efficiency and collaboration. The Foundations of Technical Communication course introduces learners to the fundamentals of effective, precise writing tailored for technical settings and specific professional audiences. Through frequent writing and editing exercises, learners receive detailed feedback to refine their style and tone.

Learning outcomes:

• Mastering clarity and precision: develop the ability to write clear, concis, and audience-appropriate documents, avoiding unnecessary jargon and verbosity.
• Adapting tone and style: learn to tailor tone and style to suit specific discourse communities, ensuring professional and effective communication.
• Basic self-editing and revision: acquire skills in self-editing and revising for grammar, syntax and structure to enhance the overall quality of written materials.
• Creating purpose-driven documents: produce technical documents, such as reports, instructions or summaries that meet specific objectives and align with professional standards.

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