Reasons to Join a SIG Today

By Beth Bailey, PhD, Membership Manager

In today’s interconnected world, individuals are increasingly recognizing the importance of achieving goals as a collective group. As you know, professional, academic, or community-based organizations often offer special interest groups (SIGs) as avenues for members to engage deeply with specific topics or areas of interest within the broader framework of the organization’s mission. Joining such SIGs can be a transformative experience, providing unique opportunities for personal and professional growth, collaboration, and making a tangible impact. Let’s explore why individuals should consider joining an organization’s special interest group.

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2023 SIG Award

By Maralee Sautter, IDL SIG Manager

It brings me great pleasure to share news about our annual SIG awards. These are SIG-specific awards to celebrate the contributions of our great volunteers and make recognition within the reach of more SIG members—those who may not qualify for STC Awards. These are given to outstanding volunteers who work hard to make our SIG the amazing community that it is.

The SIG Volunteer Achievement Award recognizes the services of a SIG volunteer over time. To be eligible, the recipient demonstrates consistent service to the SIG for two or more years, either as a volunteer in a recurring role or as a volunteer who has served in many ways without having held an elected office or appointed position. Continue reading “2023 SIG Award”

Cultural Considerations in Technical Communication Training: Navigating a Globalized World

By Megan Khotko

Editor’s note: This article is the winner of the 2023 IDL SIG Student Outreach Article-writing Competition. Megan Khotko  is a graduate student at Minnesota’s  Metropolitan State University, where she is working towards earning her master’s degree in Technical Communication and a graduate certificate in Learner Design. Congratulations, Megan!

In an age of unprecedented globalization, the interconnectedness of people and organizations across borders has become a defining feature of our world. This remarkable shift highlights the immediate need for technical writing that is not only effective but also culturally sensitive. The traditional one-size-fits-all approach to teaching technical communication is now woefully insufficient in meeting the demands of our diverse and interconnected society. The intricate web of cultural nuances and preferences in written publications emerges as a striking challenge for educators. It becomes ever more apparent that a more adaptable and culturally sensitive approach to technical writing is now imperative. Here are three fundamental pillars for instilling effective cross-cultural technical communication practices.

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