What Course Coordinators Need to Know

I have aimed this page at you, the course coordinator. This page describes logistics for the seminar. Invariably, this page won't answer every question, so please feel free to contact me, Barry Rosenberg, at:

Barry.Rosenberg@comcast.net
781-307-3416

How many students can take this seminar?

I restrict the class to 14 students at a time. Beyond 14, it becomes difficult to offer effective one-on-one learning during exercises.

What do students need to know before taking this seminar?

A separate students page explains what students need to know prior to taking the course. Feel free to point students at this page.

How much time does the seminar consume?

The seminar consumes two full days, though a one day version is also available. A typical day is 9:00-5:00 with an hour for lunch and short breaks in mid-morning and mid-afternoon. However, if a 9:00 start time doesn't work for your organization, I'm happy to start at a different time. In fact, I can also teach this course at night, over a series of nights.

Do I provide lunch or snacks?

No (though I greatly enjoy eating lunch and snacks).

What hard-copy course material does each student receive?

Each student receives the following materials:

• one copy of Addison-Wesley's Spring Into Technical Writing for Engineers and Scientists
• one printed handbook containing all the course slides

Please note the following about delivery of the materials:

• For local seminars (in New England and New York), I bring all materials with me.
• For U.S. seminars outside of New England and New York, I mail the course materials ahead of time to you (the course coordinator).
• For seminars outside the U.S., I will e-mail a soft copy of the handbook to you (the course coordinator) and ask you to print it in-house or through a local copy shop. You'll also need to order the textbook through Addison-Wesley or an online book vendor, such as Amazon.

What soft-copy course material does each student receive?

Each student receives a soft copy of the course exercises. I can provide the course materials on a CD or via e-mail. Students can get the material during the course or ahead of time. (You and I will discuss this prior to the course.)

The soft-copy course exercises are simple text files packaged as a single zip file (or tar file for Linux). If your IT or Training department is more comfortable installing the exercises themselves, I'll e-mail the zip file (or snail mail a CD) ahead of time.

Does each student need a computer?

Yes. In order to do the exercises, each student needs a computer (laptop or desktop). I'd prefer that each student use some form of Windows or Linux, though nearly any kind of computer is probably fine. (We'll talk it through on the phone ahead of time.)

What word processing software does each student require?

Students need a simple text editor such as Notepad or emacs. Students do not need a WYSIWYG formatter such as Microsoft Word.

Do the student's computers need to be networked?

No. In fact, to eliminate distractions such as day-trading, IM, and e-mail, I'd be delighted if the computers did not have access to the Internet.

What are the requirements for the training room?

My requirements for a training room are pretty straightforward. I need the following items:

• a projector for my laptop
• an electrical outlet for my laptop
• a chair and desk for each student
• a screen or other white surface on which I can project slides
• a light switch or dimmer to darken the room

During exercises, I move around the room a lot, helping each student individually. For this reason, I prefer a room that isn't too squishy, though I realize that a spacious room is not always available.

I do not require the following:

• a sound system (microphone, speakers, etc.)
• a pointing device
• a podium
• a network drop for my laptop