TCOM220

Design and Production of Technical Publications

Technical writers constantly face the challenge of creating documents that are easy to understand, aesthetically pleasing, and economical. In this course, we will examine different ways of achieving these goals by taking a careful look at the elements of design and their impact on usability and production.

The final assignment for this course is due one week after the course ends.

Instructional hours: 15

Overview

Location: Online
Format: Self-paced within deadlines set by instructor
Duration: 5 weeks
Tuition: $525
Can be applied to:
Technical Communication Certificate

Upcoming Offerings

Register for a course at any time, with the option to apply to a program later.

Start Date
Schedule
Location
Instructor
Cost
Seats Available
Action
Start DateTue, Jun 4, 2024
Schedule
  • Tue, Jun 4 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Jun 11 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Jun 18 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Jun 25 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Jul 2 (self-paced all week)
LocationOnline
InstructorFlora Gordon
Cost$525.00
Seats Available23
ActionRegister
Start DateTue, Sep 10, 2024
Schedule
  • Tue, Sep 10 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Sep 17 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Sep 24 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Oct 1 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Oct 8 (self-paced all week)
LocationOnline
InstructorFlora Gordon
Cost$525.00
Seats Available25
ActionRegister
Start DateTue, Jun 10, 2025
Schedule
  • Tue, Jun 10 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Jun 17 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Jun 24 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Jul 1 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Jul 8 (self-paced all week)
LocationOnline
InstructorFlora Gordon
Cost$525.00
Seats Available25
ActionRegister
Start DateTue, Sep 16, 2025
Schedule
  • Tue, Sep 16 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Sep 23 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Sep 30 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Oct 7 (self-paced all week)
  • Tue, Oct 14 (self-paced all week)
LocationOnline
InstructorFlora Gordon
Cost$525.00
Seats Available25
ActionRegister

What you will learn

After completing this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

  • Describe good design and how it applies to technical documents
  • Apply the five guiding principles of effective graphic design
  • Demonstrate your knowledge of the terminology, types and reasons for using grids for page layout
  • Explain the history, terminology, classifications and components of typefaces
  • Use tables, charts, graphs and other graphic elements
  • Demonstrate your knowledge of image file formats, their terminology and their use
  • Identify document structures, organization methods and binding
  • Analyze different output processes (printing, electronic) and select the best one based on the project usage, budget, schedule, distribution and accessibility needs

How you will learn and be evaluated

  • Prepare to spend 10–15 hours per week on coursework
  • Expect reading, exercises and other assignments on a weekly basis
  • Plan to access the course at least once every few days to keep up with your work and assignments

You will be evaluated on:

  • Assignments
  • Participation in online discussions
  • Quiz

To graduate with the Technical Communication Certificate, complete all courses with minimum average grade of B- (70%).

Learning Materials

No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.

Technical Requirements

For online courses, you will need a computer with audio and microphone that is connected to the internet. Canvas is the online system that will be used for the course. For more information and online support, visit Online Learning.

This course requires:

To get the most from this course, you should be comfortable with the following MS Word and/or Google Docs functions:

Assignments can also be completed using Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Publisher, Adobe InDesign, or Canva.

English language requirements

To succeed in this course, you will need an advanced level of written and spoken English. If you are unsure whether your English language skills are sufficient, we recommend you complete the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with the following minimums:

  • Overall band score minimum 6.5
  • No band below 6.0
  • Writing band score minimum 8.0

Please note we can’t refund your registration fees after the course start date if you find your English language skills are not adequate.

If you have questions or concerns about your English language proficiency, we encourage you to contact your local IELTS Test Centre.