TCN706 - Online User Assistance

Outline information
Semester
Schools offering this subject
Last revision date 2024-01-29 00:11:43.64
Last review date 2024-04-01 00:15:02.236

Subject Title
Online User Assistance

Subject Description
Help authoring tools assist technical writers in designing, publishing, and maintaining web-based user assistance. This course examines various software commonly used by writers to create online help files. In this course, students are taught how to create professional online help content and context-sensitive help. Topics include planning help systems, customizing layouts and templates, single-sourcing topics, and publishing content in various formats. Students will develop and generate an online help system as part of their professional portfolio.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:

  1. Summarize basic principles and processes of designing online user assistance for different audiences.
  2. Examine how users interact with online content in order to improve usability and findability.
  3. Plan an online help system that addresses site design best practices, ease of navigation and searchability, and appropriate technical detail.
  4. Apply topic-based writing principles to create content for optimal readability and understanding.
  5. Select graphics and visual elements that maximize a user's response to content.
  6. Use layouts and templates to improve the quality, visual appeal, and functionality of help systems.
  7. Publish for different audiences using multi-channel authoring and single-sourcing methods.

Academic Integrity
Seneca upholds a learning community that values academic integrity, honesty, fairness, trust, respect, responsibility and courage. These values enhance Seneca's commitment to deliver high-quality education and teaching excellence, while supporting a positive learning environment. Ensure that you are aware of Seneca's Academic Integrity Policy which can be found at: http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/academic-integrity-policy.html Review section 2 of the policy for details regarding approaches to supporting integrity. Section 2.3 and Appendix B of the policy describe various sanctions that can be applied, if there is suspected academic misconduct (e.g., contract cheating, cheating, falsification, impersonation or plagiarism).

Please visit the Academic Integrity website http://open2.senecac.on.ca/sites/academic-integrity/for-students to understand and learn more about how to prepare and submit work so that it supports academic integrity, and to avoid academic misconduct.

Discrimination/Harassment
All students and employees have the right to study and work in an environment that is free from discrimination and/or harassment. Language or activities that defeat this objective violate the College Policy on Discrimination/Harassment and shall not be tolerated. Information and assistance are available from the Student Conduct Office at student.conduct@senecapolytechnic.ca.

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The College will provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities in order to promote academic success. If you require accommodation, contact the Counselling and Accessibility Services Office at ext. 22900 to initiate the process for documenting, assessing and implementing your individual accommodation needs.

Camera Use and Recordings - Synchronous (Live) Classes
Synchronous (live) classes may be delivered in person, in a Flexible Learning space, or online through a Seneca web conferencing platform such as MS Teams or Zoom. Flexible Learning spaces are equipped with cameras, microphones, monitors and speakers that capture and stream instructor and student interactions, providing an in-person experience for students choosing to study online.

Students joining a live class online may be required to have a working camera in order to participate, or for certain activities (e.g. group work, assessments), and high-speed broadband access (e.g. Cable, DSL) is highly recommended. In the event students encounter circumstances that impact their ability to join the platform with their camera on, they should reach out to the professor to discuss. Live classes may be recorded and made available to students to support access to course content and promote student learning and success.

By attending live classes, students are consenting to the collection and use of their personal information for the purposes of administering the class and associated coursework. To learn more about Seneca's privacy practices, visit Privacy Notice.