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What is it?

The process of analyzing learner needs in alignment with desired learning outcomes, followed by the development of learning environments through the management of content, interaction, and assessment in support of those learning outcomes.

Why is it important?

Instructional design drives the development of quality learning experiences, addressing how information is imparted to the learner, how the learner interacts with that content, and to what extent desired goals and outcomes have been met.

...continue reading "Term of the Week: Instructional Design"

What is it?

A design technique that allows content on a web page to automatically reflow, resize, reformat, and reposition itself so it can be displayed to its best advantage on a variety of device sizes and orientations.

Why is it important?

Our content is consumed on mobile devices of all shapes and sizes. Responsive design can help us display our content well without needing to reformat it for various devices and screen sizes.

...continue reading "Term of the Week: Responsive Design"

What is it?

The inclusion of content from one source into another source by hyperlink reference. The presented result appears as though the included content had occurred at the point of reference.

Why is it important?

First formalized as the idea of link-based use-by-reference, transclusion is a fundamental feature for any content representation system, such as DITA, that enables true reuse.

...continue reading "Term of the Week: Transclusion"

What is it?

Guidelines that determine who has ownership and responsibility for various aspects of an organization.

Why is it important?

A governance model makes it clear who has authority to make which decisions about content and contributes to smooth operational decisions and processes.

...continue reading "Term of the Week: Governance Model"

What is it?

A research discipline that provides strategic solutions to business needs by analyzing changing markets and industry trends.

Why is it important?

Business analysis helps technical communicators better understand the audience they are writing for and helps them align content goals with strategic business goals, thus increasing product value and consumer loyalty.

...continue reading "Term of the Week: Business Analysis"

What is it?

Everything needed to complete (or end) a temporary effort, preferably with schedule, budget, scope, quality, and risk constraints in balance.

Why is it important?

Writing well is just the start. You also have to organize and deliver your work on time and on budget, in a way that leaves your collaborators willing to work with you again.

...continue reading "Term of the Week: Project Management"

What is it?

The overall outcome of a user’s interaction with a product, service, or organization across all touch-points, experienced through the lens of the user’s personal background and preferences.

Why is it important?

User experience is the comprehensive, holistic measurement of organizational performance and understanding of the market, because every user is unique and any link in the chain can harm their experience.

...continue reading "Term of the Week: User Experience"

What is it?

A broad term for describing the different forms of content that can help people use a software application or other technological product correctly.

Why is it important?

User assistance places the work that technical communicators do within the framework of user-centered design, of improving the experience of a user, rather than seeing that work as simply creating manuals.

...continue reading "Term of the Week: User Assistance"

What is it?

Content that is modular, structured, reusable, format-free, and semantically rich and, as a consequence, discoverable, reconfigurable, and adaptable.

Why is it important?

Intelligent content enables organizations to rapidly adapt their content to the changing needs of their customers and the devices they use.

...continue reading "Term of the Week: Intelligent Content"