Available courses

XML for Content Authoring

XML for Content Authoring

Overview

 Markup Language (XML) is becoming one of the most popular industry formats for document publishing. It is a platform-independent and vendor neutral solution that is being rapidly incorporated into next-generation document, web, and e-business application strategies. Creating structured XML documents provide many of benefits to content-heavy organizations.  XML content can be assembled, personalized, and delivered automatically, on demand, with the help of an XML content management system. These XML documents are used as a single source medium to dynamically generate multiple kinds of output including PDF, HTML, EPUB, etc. There are many benefits of using XML in document production. These could include increased productivity, cost savings from content reuse, increased consistency, lower translation costs, improvements in usability and quality. As such, XML skills are in huge demand.

XML for Content Authoring provides a comprehensive understanding of XML. It is a 12-week online course that covers all aspects of XML including processes, methods, Document Type Definitions (DTD), XML schemas, Extensible Stylesheet Language Tranformations (XSLT), and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).

The course content is suitable for beginners and those who are familiar with XML but want to gain a more formal and structured grounding in the subject.

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DITA Essentials

DITA Essentials

Overview

DITA is an XML based architecture for designing, authoring, reusing, managing and publishing content in multiple formats and output types. These include print, PDF, the web, help systems and others, depending on the needs of the users.

This course on DITA provides a comprehensive understanding of DITA. It is a 12-week online course that covers all aspects of DITA including topics, maps, linking, content reuse, specialization and processing.

This course is suitable for;

  • Information developers who need to know how to create DITA topics
  • Information architects who need to know how to create DITA maps, reuse content and specialize the DITA DTD
  • Production specialists who need to know how to create output using DITA processing

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Editing & Proofreading

Editing & Proofreading

Overview

Editing, otherwise known as copy editing, and proofreading are a necessary part of any document’s lifecycle, whether it be a book, manual, user-guide, magazine, newspaper,  report, website or online help. These are skills that a company or individual cannot afford to be without.

A document is often written, compiled and published in a pressurised environment. Multiple content editors, heavy workloads and tight deadlines mean that mistakes can enter the process. A review of any document by a second set of eyes is always a good practice, but a good copy editor and proofreader can make it more readable, structured, clear, correct, concise, comprehensible and consistent. Being able to copy edit and proofread well, can improve  a company’s image and an individual’s professional image to a potential or current employer.

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the role and processes involved in both copy editing and proofreading. It is an 8 week course that covers all aspects of both roles including, style guides, style sheets, proofreading marks, methods and processes.

The course content is suitable for beginners. Those who are familiar with copy editing and proofreading will also gain a more formal and structured grounding in these subjects.

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Technical Writing

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Technical Writing

Overview

Technical writing is a fast-growing discipline worldwide. It uses many media platforms and adopts various technology and tool advancements to provide information to a target audience. It is not journalistic writing or expressive writing. Instead it is designed to inform or instruct a non-expert about technical or specialized topics in a simple way with a specific goal in mind.

This is a 12-week online course that provides a thorough grounding in technical writing principles and styles appropriate to the end user. It presents key techniques that define high quality technical writing and includes an overview of modern tools, technologies and methods for creating effective technical documents.

The course content is suitable for beginners. It is also for those who are familiar with technical writing but want to gain a more formal and structured grounding. Technical writers who want to update their skills to include more advanced methods and technologies will benefit from this course.

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Grammar & Punctuation

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Grammar & Punctuation

Overview

English is the second most widely used language on the planet. Therefore English language skills are incredibly important – in fact, the language skills of a workforce can have a direct impact on the growth of a business. Good grammar and punctuation are vital for any professional operating in the business world as it is the wording of a document that conveys precise meaning to the reader.

This Grammar and Punctuation course is for any company or individual who would like to improve their knowledge of language in order to develop their writing skills. It is a 5 week course that provides a comprehensive overview of grammar, punctuation and spelling. It will instruct course participants how to construct effective sentences, build paragraphs, identify common errors while doing so, vary sentences for clarity, purpose and effect, and utilize best practice to make it easier to read and understand a document.

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Single Sourcing for Content Reuse

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Single Sourcing for Content Reuse

Overview

Single sourcing is a method for developing re-usable information. Topic based authoring is the premise for single sourcing and allows content creators to assemble content into different formats such as print media, online help systems and websites. Single sourcing saves time and money, improves quality, provides greater control over content and increases usability of company documentation.

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of single sourcing and topic based authoring. It is of 10 weeks duration and covers the process of building documents, structuring content, language configuration and leveraging technology.

It is suitable for anyone interested in single sourcing including technical writers and editors, publication managers or managers responsible for a company’s content strategy.


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Business Writing

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Business Writing

Overview

Writing continues to be one of the most important skills in a business environment to communicate, to sell, to market, to propose, to explain, and to report. Written documents are still the primary means of formal communication, whether they are delivered electronically or on paper. Therefore, writing ability is a core business skill and writing well can have a positive impact on both an organization and an individual’s career.

This course is of 12 weeks duration which covers all important aspects of business writing. It teaches participants how to effectively plan written communication. They will learn how write clear, concise and effective documents. They will know how to structure emails, letters, memos, reports, proposals and presentations. Participants also learn basic business writing techniques such as how to use active voice and maintain consistency. This course also provides an understanding of grammar and punctuation.


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