Uninfluential AI

For this course the use of AI didn’t influence my approach to graded work in the course beyond using AI assignments that required its use. Even though the assignment criteria permitted the use of AI tools for certain activities, I opted not to use it, not even for revision. I think that part of the reason I opted not to use AI tools outside of where it was required is because I enjoy designing content at every stage of the content and because I’m still new to the technology. Over time as I get more practice and the technology becomes more refined, I think I would be more willing to incorporate the technology into my content creation activities.

Though I opted not to use AI beyond assignments that required its use, I see the value of such technology being used in industry because it has the potential to save time on content creation activities. I’m not opposed to learning more about AI and using it as a tool in the right setting. For the purposes of this course, I enjoyed creating my own content more than incorporating AI into the process.

Material Impact

In this course I think the materials that had the greatest impact on my career goals are the peer reviews associated with some assignments, learning more about AI writing tools, and evaluating style guides for a client.

These materials challenged my critical thinking skills and made them stronger. When writing peer reviews of colleagues writing, I gained experience in providing feedback to help them become better writers and I gained experience observing the different ways that tone of voice can be applied to a piece of content. Being able to distinguish tone in different pieces of content is a crucial skill for technical communicators as it allows them to create content tailored to specific audiences. A peer review is a good way to evaluate whether a piece of content will reach the audience without potentially offending them and to check for alignment with the designated style guide.

AI will inevitably be incorporated into technical communication as a time saving tool for technical communicators. Being at the forefront of this technology allows for a smoother transition into industry in the short term and sets the stage for future job security by already being familiar with the use of AI.

Evaluating style guides is another critical skill for technical communicators. In the case of organizations that already have a style guide, knowing how to evaluate style guides allows technical communicators to provide recommendations for a style guide that could better align with the organization’s goals for content as the audience changes over time. In the case of organizations that are either just starting out or those that have yet to decide on a style guide, this allows technical communicators to provide valuable insight that will help the organization create a specific brand identity as it applies to their content.

Course Guidance

The first thing that I would do when guiding a new student taking this course is to think about what field of technical communication, they want to establish a career. Knowing what their career goals are will allow me to better guide them through the course and better explain concepts covered relevant to their career goals. Without knowing what their career (or education) goals are, I don’t think I can effectively guide them through the course. This is one thing that I think is important to succeed in the course; establishing career goals to better apply course concepts.

The most important thing to succeed is to practice applying the concepts. In my experience this is the most effective way to learn. Practical application of concepts for this course, or any course for that matter, fosters growth as a student and as a professional by learning a little more to refine writing skills as it applies to technical communication.

The most important thing to avoid when taking this course is to give up and not try. Learning is cyclical meaning that there are multiple stages in the learning process that are necessary to repeat to learn any new concept, including failure. We may not get it right every time and that’s okay. The best thing to do is to learn from any failure and try again. No instructor worth their salt will allow a student fail if the effort to learn is there and improvement is seen. The bottom-line is don’t be afraid to try and to fail, it only makes you stronger.

Looking Forward

I’m almost halfway through completing my master’s degree. As I continue my journey learning about technical communication, I’m starting to identify potential future employers and intend to apply to some of them. My main focus right now is developing my skills as a writer to help me stand out amongst the crowd. I’m confident that I’m well on my way to starting a new career as a technical communicator.

In addition to career opportunities, I’m exploring doctoral program options as a next step in my career and educational goals. Right now, I want to continue my education in Texas because of veteran benefits to help with the cost of tuition. The program that I’m looking at is at Texas Tech University. There is still more to evaluate on this but at the moment I’m leaning toward the program that Texas Tech offers.