[Baynet] Infopeople's "Writing That Works" online course

Wed Aug 19 11:22:08 PDT 2009

Since some people who may be interested in participating might not receive
this notice directly, we would appreciate it if you would print and post or
route this announcement to staff and colleagues. Thanks!

Title:  Writing That Works: Written Communication for Library Staff (online
learning course)

Dates:  October 6 – November 2, 2009

To register for this workshop:  Use the online registration form at

http://infopeople.org/workshop/433 

Fee:  $75 for those in the California library community and Infopeople
Partners, $150 for all others.

Do you ever feel frustrated because people don't "get" what you're trying to
say in your email? When your library board or director asks you to write a
report, do you stare at a blank screen, wondering where to start? Would you
like to feel more confident that your written communication projects a
positive image of you and your skills? You're not alone in feeling anxious
about writing. 

In this course, communications professional Laurie Putnam will help you: 

·         Explain the steps in the writing process. 

·         Develop strategies for writing efficiently. 

·         Write a document that is focused and organized. 

·         Revise your writing for clarity, conciseness, and accuracy. 

·         Write more effective email messages. 

·         Partner with colleagues to improve your writing with "reality
checks." 

·         Use online tools and resources that will help you continue to
improve your writing on your own. 

Writing That Works can make library staff more productive—whether you’re the
writer or the reader. 

Workshop Description: This four-week online course will give you strategies
for improving your work-related writing. The instructor will provide
planning templates, editing checklists, and practical tips that can be
applied immediately. In online discussion forums, we’ll explore common
problems with writing and ways to overcome them. Through individual and
partner exercises, you’ll learn ways to write faster and more effectively.
You’ll take away tips for writing email that will be read and understood.
You’ll polish up writing samples of your own. And you’ll learn about online
resources that can help you continue to improve your writing long after the
course is over. 

Preliminary Course Outline: Using an Internet connection and web browser,
you’ll log in to the Infopeople online learning site and complete the
following learning modules: 

·         Week 1: The Writing Process 

Planning before you write 

Finding and using models 

Doing “reality checks” 

·         Week 2: Organizing and Focusing Your Writing 

Identifying your key point 

Including the right information 

Structuring your content 

·         Week 3: Writing More Effective Email 

Things to consider before you email 

Getting your point across 

Conveying the right tone 

·         Week 4: Revising Your Writing 

Avoiding common problems 

Proofreading 

Using tools and resources that go beyond the spell checker 

Instructor:  Laurie Putnam.  Laurie Putnam has been managing writers,
editors, publications, and publishing departments for two decades. Since
2004, she has been teaching professional writing and publishing to future
librarians in San Jose State University’s School of Library and Information
Science. Laurie also runs a communications business based in Monterey,
California, where she leads the development of publications and
communications programs for libraries, nonprofit organizations, and
high-tech companies. Prior to forming her own business, Laurie was director
of branding and marketing communications at Aspect Telecommunications in San
Jose. 

Pre-course assignment: You’ll use your own writing for class exercises. That
way, you’ll be able to apply the techniques and ideas we talk about in the
course to your own worklife right away.

Before the course begins, you’ll need to choose at least one work-related
document you’ll be writing during the timeframe of the course. The document
should be substantive but brief (one to three pages)—perhaps a policy,
procedure, or board report; a letter, memo, or formal email; or a press
release, blog entry, or newsletter article. It doesn’t matter whether your
document will be delivered electronically or on paper. You may use the same
document throughout the course, or choose a different document each week. 

Time required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2½ to 3
hours per week. You can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of
the day or night. However, it is recommended that you complete each week’s
assignments within that week to stay in sync with other learners. 

Who Should Take This Course: This course is appropriate for all levels of
library staff at any type of library. Anyone who has to write on the job and
wants to improve his or her written communications can benefit from the
course. 

Participants must be fluent in English. This online course is not a
substitute for basic writing or ESL instruction. Those who need more
intensive assistance and coaching should explore community college courses
and writing centers, and other local resources. 

Certification: Infopeople is an approved provider for the Western Council
Library Practitioner Certification Program,
http://certificate.westernco.org/ 

Enrollment for this course is limited to 30. Please enroll promptly to avoid
disappointment.

Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found at

http://www.infopeople.org/training/learning_details.html    

If you would like to subscribe via RSS and be notified whenever new
Infopeople training events are available, you can use these links:

**For new on-ground or online workshops: http://infopeople.org/workshop/rss

**For new podcasts: http://feeds.feedburner.com/InfopeoplePodcasts

To view a complete list of Infopeople workshops and for general information
about Infopeople Training opportunities, go to the main Infopeople Workshops
page at http://infopeople.org/workshop                    

If you have questions about registration or scheduling of workshops, please
contact Linda Rodenspiel, the Infopeople Project Assistant, at
assist at infopeople.org  or by phone at 650-578-9685.

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