So many awards, so much time (2021-2022)

It takes time to apply for STC recognition, so we are pleased the IDL SIG team came back from the 2022 Summit Honors Reception with a lot to celebrate. Our team and individuals worked long hours in 2021 to fill out and submit the necessary forms. We were rewarded with the following awards and honors:

At the Honors Reception, we also had fun cheering for Jamye Sagan, who received her 2021 Associate Fellow award.

IDL members Li-At (Ruttenburg) Rathbun and Ben Woelk collected their Fellow awards during the Honors Reception, as well.

Congratulations to our IDL SIG members for their many accomplishments!

Why I joined the Instructional Design & Learning SIG

A personal journey

By Maralee Sautter

Why did I become a member of the IDL SIG? Maybe the IDL chose me, or maybe I was following an intuitive path that clarified when I joined the SIG. The outcome, however, was serendipitous.

What’s My Backstory?

My journey started over 23 years ago when I became a member of the STC. Technical writing was an exciting path into a career full of possibilities. To discover the many facets of technical writing, I nurtured my tech-comm knowledge by attending Willamette Valley Chapter program meetings and pursued a secondary degree in technical writing at the local university in Portland, Oregon—Portland State University (PSU).

Most of my technical writing jobs in the Willamette Valley area, dubbed the Silicon Forest, have been in high-tech; however, a side trajectory unfolded when I was asked to teach Technical Writing in 2007 at my alma mater, PSU. As an adjunct instructor, I was able to teach in-person classes in the evening, which allowed me to continue my day job. Eventually, I created e-learning modules for some of my writing classes, which allowed me to teach online (asynchronously), never having to set foot on campus. These modules were delivered through Blackboard and Desire to Learn (D2L), two online learning management systems. 

As I pursued tech-comm, I developed stronger writing skills, prepared and delivered PowerPoint presentations, and studied the tools of the trade, such as FrameMaker, HTML, RoboHelp, and Flare. I attended as many STC conferences as financially possible—one of the best ways to learn about technical communication. 

In 2006 at the Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jane MacKenzie presented a web-design and user interface session, which was so inspirational that I became her greatest fan. (Jane is a former SIG manager, 2004–2007, and a Performance Consultant and Instructional Design Mentor). In 2007 I joined the SIG’s leadership team as secretary at the Summit in Philadelphia. Then I moved on to the co-manager position along with Jamye Sagan. (Yes. I’m SIG manager for the second time around.) 

What’s My IDL Connection?

In retrospect, it seemed as though I followed Jane, but in reality, there was an underlying connection between my passion to teach, and desire to learn the tools of the trade, plus a willingness to rub shoulders with the IDL knowledge-bearers.

Our SIG’s mission is to help STC members identify and develop knowledge and practical skills to design, develop, and implement technical instruction in electronic and traditional classroom settings. The SIG strives to promote sound design practices and provide information and education about instructional theory and research. 

Our goals are similar to other groups, such as the Association for Talent Development (ATD, formerly ASTD) and the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPSI). While training and teaching are important, the way we design and write our materials connects us to STC, because we focus on technical writing, communication, and the user experience. 

Promoting a practical approach to teaching and virtual learning is why I remain an instructional designer and teacher at heart, because I derived my knowledge through experience and practical application. Over the years, STC and the SIG have provided me with many opportunities to learn IDL practices, and I’m delighted to be a member of both.

STC Summit OnDemand, Call for Proposals & Associate Fellow Applications

We thought you might be interested in the following STC offerings and due dates.

It’s not too late to take advantage of STC’s 2021 Summit OnDemand content, now available through 30 September! Register now to access all the recorded education sessions, Featured Speaker Sessions, copies of the presenters’ slides, and even access to the virtual exhibitors. Plus you can earn up to 8 CEUs toward CPTC currency!

The STC Summit 2022 Call for Proposals is open! The conference will take place onsite May 15 – 18, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois (just outside of Chicago). The proposal submission deadline is 11:59 PM US Eastern on Thursday, September 30, 2021. Submitters will be notified about their proposals in late October. Learn more at https://summit.stc.org/call-for-proposals/

STC Associate Fellow applications are available now. Associate Fellow is one of two STC honors given to members who have an exemplary record of contributions to our profession and to the Society.  This honor recognizes members for their outstanding achievements in and contributions to the arts and science of technical communication, and for sustained and significant service to STC. Read more  to see if you qualify. Applications are due on  November 1, 2021.