Currents Conference

Everybody Communicates: Navigating Today’s Multiple Media Currents

When and where

Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 8:00-4:30

At Kennesaw State University
Continuing Education Center
3333 Busbee Drive
Kennesaw, Georgia 30144

Conference vision

To offer a meaningful, professionally organized communications conference that invigorates attendees with relevant information and new ideas, and entices them to learn, network and join STC.

Price

STC Member (do not belong to a chapter )- $150
Chapter Member (any STC chapter )- $125
Student Member – $125
Non-Member – $200

Keynote: From overlooked to center stage

The rate of online information continues to increase dramatically. Both professionals and amateurs in every field are publishing content on blogs, forums, websites, intranets, podcasts, and more. An attitude of do-it-yourself is increasingly common, as is the feeling that anyone can write. In a world where writing skills are becoming less valued, how can technical writers avoid being overlooked and instead move closer to center stage? Diversifying your skills, wearing multiple hats, and becoming experts in a complementary field (such as multimedia, web development, testing, usability) can help. Writers can also rise above ordinary content by developing the most compelling aspect of communication: story.

About the keynote speaker

Tom Johnson is a senior technical writer for a non-profit organization in Salt Lake City, Utah. He holds a BA in English from Brigham Young University and an MFA in Literary Nonfiction Writing from Columbia University. In addition to his professional work, Tom participates in a number of online activities. He writes an active technical communications blog at idratherbewriting.com. He records podcasts, often interviewing technical writing luminaries around the world. And he is a WordPress blog consultant, offering both training and design services.

Schedule

Click to view a larger version of the schedule.

8:00-8:30 Registration

8:30-9:30 Breakfast Reception

Welcome by STC Atlanta President Robert Armstrong

Comments on the state of STC by Mike Hughes

9:30-10:30 Session 1

10:45-11:45 Session 2

11:45-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:00 Keynote

From Overlooked to Center Stage – Tom Johnson

2:15-3:15 Session 3

3:30-4:30 Session 4

Download a copy of the schedule (PDF).
This schedule is preliminary and subject to change.

Presentations by Session

Each session includes four presentations to choose from.

Session 1 – 9:30-10:30

Got Conflict? Managing Conflict on Global Teams
Judith L. Glick-Smith, Clifford Sells, LLC
So You Want to Be a Technical Writer?
Kathleen Baine, Oak Tree Communications

Prototyping Using Axure
Krista Kostuch, Synovus Financial Corp.

Personas Done Properly: Defining and Utilizing Personas: Research to Application
Eric Holtzclaw, User Insight
Rachel Walsh, User Insight
Ottie Pendleton, User Insight

Session 2 – 10:45-11:45

What’s New in Flare 6?
Paul Stoecklein, MadCap Software
Project Management: Setting Expectations and Keeping Clients Happy
Kathleen Baine, Oak Tree Communications
BoK This: Building the STC Body of Knowledge
Mike Hughes, IBM
Essential UX Skills for Technical Communicators: Usability Testing
Yina Li, Horizon Software International
Will Sansbury
Rachel Peters, Fiserv

Session 3 – 2:15-3:15

Strategic Planning for Your Life
Judith Glick-Smith, Clifford Sells, LLC
Presentation Skills for Non-Presenters: Secrets of Experienced Presenters that Technical Communicators Can Use
Kelly Vandever, Communications for Everyone, LLC
Software Documentation: Implementing ISO 26514 for Your Workplace
George Hayhoe, Mercer University
Essential UX Skills for Technical Communicators: Card Sorting
Rachel Peters, Fiserv
Yina Li, Horizon Software International
Will Sansbury

Session 4 – 3:30-4:30

Resumes: Advice and Critique
Claudia Ludlow, Lockheed-Martin
Margaret Cekis, Benchmark Technology Group
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for Technical Communicators or Why Content is Still King
Robert Armstrong, STC Atlanta President
Tweet This! The New Conference Backchannel – How Twitter is Changing Meetings and Conference
Kelly Vandever, Communications for Everyone, LLC
Essential UX Skills for Technical Communicators: Heuristic Evaluation
Will Sansbury
Rachel Peters, Fiserv
Yina Li, Horizon Software International

Download a copy of the schedule (PDF).

Send proposal

The deadline for submitting proposals is passed.

However, you can still submit a proposal for consideration as a standby presentation (in case one of our presenters needs to cancel last minute). To submit your proposal, complete the following form and email it to Chris Snider at jcs1963 at charter.net.