Volunteer Appreciation Awards

By Maralee Sautter, IDL SIG Manager

At the December 16 IDL SIG leadership meeting, it was my pleasure to recognize the incredible team of volunteers in a brief Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony. 

Each volunteer was presented with a certificate and recognized for their 2023 contributions. After the ceremony, there was a drawing for several prizes—a $25 Amazon gift card and Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards that the “management” sponsored. It was a fun event!
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Learn Marketing from a New STC Member

By Melissa Pagnotta, IDL-SIG Social Media Manager

Hello, STC members! I’m very excited to share some insights with you. I understand that approaching marketing can be as overwhelming as…well, a never-ending Facebook feed! By the end of this article, I hope you’ll have a foundational understanding of marketing, some steps to take, and which areas you’d like to dive further into. Let’s get started!
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Good Presentations Take Preparation: Lessons from past presentations

By Ruth-Anne Klassen, Student Liaison

Since joining Instructional Design & Learning in 2021, I have improved my presentation skills and general communication too. Initially, when I joined IDL, it was because the volunteer coordinator said that the group would be great for me as a student.  I joined IDL to practice writing, to receive mentoring, and to meet new people. Funnily enough, I didn’t understand what “instructional design” was, but I was eager to learn and grow with a nice group of people. 
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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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