Mar 30 - Apr 24/09 (part-time online):
E-Portfolios are fast becoming an indispensable component in career planning for professionals. More than just a 'resume' tool for students, e-portfolios are being used for career documentation and are valuable in situations such as job evaluations and advancement. This course will introduce you to the basics of creating your own (ongoing) e-portfolio. You will use projects created both inside and outside the Technical Communication program to create a picture of yourself as a Technical Communication professional. You will also learn how to market yourself using your e-portfolio and other self-marketing tools. This course is excellent for those searching for a job, shifting careers, or looking to advance within their current situation. ( www.pr.viu.ca/techcomm/courses/pdjt001w.asp)

Mar 9 - Apr 17/09 (part-time online):
Students will be introduced to the technical skills involved in writing reports and proposals for business and technical applications. Students develop basic skills in: format types and selection criteria; report and proposal organization; layout and structure; table of contents creation; referencing techniques, and the usage of style sheets. ( www.pr.viu.ca/techcomm/courses/pdwr001w.asp)

Feb 9 - Apr 3/09 (part-time online):
Technical writers are often asked to write manuals of varying sizes on a variety of topics from policies and procedures, to user guides and training manuals. The basic processes of researching, designing, writing, testing, and reviewing are encompassed in all the different types. This course will introduce the student to processes that will enable them to produce manuals in a reliable and systematic manner. ( www.pr.viu.ca/techcomm/courses/pdwm001w.asp)

Feb 9 - Apr 3/09 (part-time online):
In this course you will learn key project management concepts and tools, and how to apply them specifically to technical communications and knowledge management projects. This course is intended for contractors, senior technical writers, content and knowledge managers, and heads of technical writing departments who need to supplement their technical writing skills with project management skills. It would also be useful for engineers or project managers who have little experience with the special requirements of technical communications projects. ( www.pr.viu.ca/techcomm/courses/pdpm001w.asp)

Jan 19 - Mar 13/09 (part-time online):
Moving technical writing online means that materials must be designed, structured, and written differently than for paper-based publications. Students learn the principles of online information design. ( www.pr.viu.ca/techcomm/courses/pdon001w.asp)

Jan 12 - Mar 13/09 (part-time online):
Gain a working knowledge of the Photoshop interface, including arranging palettes and navigation. Learn to resize images and adjust resolution for print or web applications. You will work with the various image selection tools available in Photoshop to discover the appropriate use of each tool. You'll also learn about the layering concept and how to work with layers. Get introduced to photo editing tools and get an overview on working with colours, as well as the basics of image enhancement. ( www.pr.viu.ca/dwpw/courses.asp#Photoshop)

Jan 5 - Feb 27/09 (part-time online):
Join Kathy McTaggart to enhance your occupational skills in the field of technical writing and editing. Almost every product or service on the market today comes with 'documentation' produced by one or more technical writers. This eight-week online course offers a practical introduction to technical writing and editing as a skill and a profession. We examine the role and responsibilities of the technical writer/editor, key skills and attitudes required for success, and practice introductory technical writing and editing using individual and group exercises.
(www.pr.viu.ca/techcomm/courses/pdtw001w.asp)

Jan 5 - Feb 27/09 (part-time online):
Students are introduced to the usage of computer tools in Technical writing - from word processing to desktop publishing to operating systems and basics of using a network. They will not be expected to become experts in these areas, but should be able to evaluate tools and understand compatibility issues, and learn to choose and use the appropriate tool for the job.
(www.pr.viu.ca/techcomm/courses/pdto001w.asp)

Jan 5 - Feb 27/09(part-time online):
This eight week on-line course offers a practical introduction to designing documents of all kinds. Students learn how best to present different types of information. They learn to analyze the information and to layout pages for a printed or online document.

Good documents invite people back – no matter what the use. Whether it is a newsletter, brochure, training manual, project proposal, advertisement or a novel, good layout is important and plays a huge part in the final look of, enjoyment of and usability of the document.

Nov 3 - Dec 12/08 (part-time online):
Sharing documents can sometimes be an issue when people are using various hardware and software platforms. Adobe Acrobat allows businesses to simplify document processes using Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). A standard adopted by governments and enterprises worldwide, Adobe PDF is a reliable format for electronic document exchange that preserves document integrity so files can be viewed and printed on a variety of platforms.