TCTrainNet Meets Adobe FrameMaker

Starting with the next TCTrainNet course in September 2017, all participants in TCTrainNet will have the opportunity to benefit from a latest full version of Adobe’s FrameMaker. While studying the training unit on “The DITA Standard for Technical Communication,” participants will further have the chance to practice some hands-on learning with the latest version of Adobe FrameMaker.

In this post:

  1. About TCTrainNet
  2. TCTrainNet Course Overview
  3. tekom Competence Framework
  4. DITA
  5. Benefits of TCTrainNet Training
  6. Get a free TCTrainNet Guest Trial
  7. Next TCTrainNet Starting Dates

About TCTrainNet

TCTrainNet is a trainer-guided online training and tekom certification program in technical communication. The curriculum was developed based on over 30 years of experience and expertise of tekom in the field of technical communication. Regardless of their professional background, participants can establish and deepen their knowledge and skills with 25 training units – in a time period of eight months. All interactive training materials were developed in cooperation with leading experts from both industry and academia. While meeting the German tekom standard, TCTrainNet will also prepare you for the international tekom certification examination to become a qualified “Technical Communicator (tekom).”

As a trainer-guided online training program, TCTrainNet provides the option to study whenever and wherever you like while you get direct support by an experienced online trainer. In addition, participating in this certificate program also provides you with a unique, live opportunity to exchange virtually with the other participants in your course.

TCTrainNet Course Overview

The curriculum of TCTrainNet has been developed in accordance with the tekom competence framework, guaranteeing a high qualification standard. Based on this framework, the training comprises five competence areas describing the steps leading to the creation of an information product. Each competence area includes several topics comprising one to five training units.

tekom Competence Framework

tekom’s cross-industry competence framework for technical communication forms the basis for this training program. It was launched in 2016 and replaces the former tekom qualification modules. The tekom competence framework has been developed in a project with the help of a Technical Committee from the Advisory Body for Training and Development and describes the occupational profile and potential job profiles in technical communication. Competences for people working as technical communicators are defined in the competence framework through a taxonomy that is based on the reference process for developing information products. Each process step includes several fields of competences comprising thematic blocks, teaching content and – at the lowest level – learning objectives.

DITA

“The DITA Standard for Technical Communication” is one of the 25 training units of TCTrainNet. DITA is a methodology and an open standard built on XML developed and maintained by OASIS. The workflows and practices used in technical communication are changing from the previous style-based approaches to structured XML-based approaches because XML is more efficient and flexible. An understanding of DITA and XML authoring is therefore very important to technical communicators. Transition to a DITA authoring approach is based on the same core writing skills of technical communicators but requires a paradigm shift in thought when it comes to how information is designed, structured, marked up, re-used, and processed.

Structured Authoring with DITA

One of the principles of XML-based authoring is the separation of content and form, where authored documents contain semantic markup rather than presentational markup. The presentational form of the document is used during an automated publishing process. This approach encourages single-sourcing, where the same information is re-used in different publications. All this reduces the author’s workload.

The DITA Standard

DITA is – perhaps most importantly – a technical communication standard. The DITA standard is administered and further developed by volunteer technical communicators under the auspices of the OASIS standards body.

Authoring and publishing tool vendors ensure that their products comply with the standard. You can choose from a variety of tools to author and publish DITA content, and you can exchange content with other DITA authors because DITA has an open, standard file format.

Benefits of TCTrainNet Training

As a training program that exclusively takes place online and that is guided by an experienced online trainer, TCTrainNet offers several benefits for individual training participants as well as for employers who plan to train their staff members in technical communication.

As an Individual

Individual training participants can profit from the training by acquiring the internationally recognized tekom certification. Further, the training offers a high level of flexibility because the entire training can be taken online, regardless of time zones. Individuals can work through the training at their own pace and study whenever and wherever is best for them.

The training helps individuals:

As an Employer

For employers, the training program provides relevant opportunities to improve business performance, qualification and also help improve staff morale. Additionally, the online training can easily be incorporated into daily business.

The training helps employers:

Get a free TCTrainNet Guest Trial

Do you want to have a first look at the training program? Get your free trial account on our website or directly contact our TCTrainNet team with any further questions.

Next TCTrainNet Starting Dates

Training courses are conducted every two months.

The next starting dates are: