An IEEE society dedicated to understanding and promoting effective communication in engineering, scientific, and other technical environments
When one is in the market for help in improving communication skills, most of us take the same first step: a Google search. This search will turn up some sound, albeit conventional, advice. Let me suggest instead that you explore a rather unconventional source and take your lessons from the drawing rooms of 19th century England. Associate … [Read more...]
The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society and the IEEE Professional Communication Society are partnering this year to bring communication content to members of both societies. In case you missed it, the webinar entitled "The Power of Presentations" was presented on Wednesday, April 3. It attracted a broad and diverse audience, with members of … [Read more...]
In a meeting today, several faculty complained that students were spending time in class on their smartphones doing things unrelated to course activities--updating Facebook, sending texts, replying to unimportant email. My question was, why do you allow them to use their devices in class? Time in class is precious, and my solution to student … [Read more...]
There are two rules of grammar that I won't ever give up. The first is the use of a singular pronoun as an antecedent to a singular noun. For instance, The student handed in their paper late. The singular subject should have a singular pronoun, either he or she, but time and time again I see written prose using the plural in some vain … [Read more...]
Rachel Emma Silverman, in a recent post in the Wall Street Journal, commented on the growing popularity of stand-up meetings. Also known as a "huddle" or "scrum," the stand-up meeting is a hallmark of software development workplaces that emphasize "Agile" development and its associated values of speed, flexibility, and innovation. I can guess … [Read more...]
Thanks to Kim Sydow Campbell, author of the blog Pros Write, for sharing this video from the Arizona State University Writing Centers. ASU asked instructors what they want (or perhaps more importantly, didn't want) in student email. The examples are universal, I believe! … [Read more...]
I often hear engineers complain about the lack of clarity in the writing they read. Sometimes this complaint is phrased in terms like "this report doesn't flow," or "I can't understand what the point of this memo is." Teaching engineering students to write clearly is my job, of course, and teaching clarity is one of my three favorite lessons to … [Read more...]
I'm in Austin, Texas this week for the IEEE meeting. This meeting brings together all areas within IEEE, and it is one of our 3 meetings per year to conduct the business of our society. I attended the Leadership Orientation for New Society Presidents in November 2011, just before I assumed the role as PCS President. This year I'm back to … [Read more...]
My academic term--the winter quarter that began before Christmas and runs 10 weeks--is coming to an end. As my vision clears, I realize that I haven't been a responsible blogger for some time. Students in my Technical Communication class have received most of my attention, and I am confident that they are better engineering writers than they were … [Read more...]
Kyle Wiens, writing in the Harvard Business Review, has offered important observations about what your errors in writing may say to a prospective employer. In a blog post entitled "I Won't Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar. Here's Why," Wiens explains that when he reads an applicant's resume or job letter and sees grammar, spelling, … [Read more...]
