Real Projects/Real Audiences/Real Headaches: Collaboration in a Technical Publications Course.

Technical writing programs housed in geographically isolated universities face great challenges in regard to getting students career-related work experience. A course in desktop publishing can provide students at rural schools with experience equivalent to internships. In a desktop publishing course taught at Murray State University in Kentucky, in addition to learning principles of layout and design, students faced many challenges like those that will confront them in a workplace. They worked on projects that entailed real financial constraints and deadlines, and they were required to modify their work after receiving reviews from several different individuals. In addition to providing students with experience, the course provided benefits to the university in terms of service and public relations. (Twenty-four references are attached.) (Author/SR)