Although I haven't yet finalized my research topic, my ideas mostly revolve around teaching of technical communication, in particular to those who already have technical backgrounds, such as engineers. Engineers have a reputation for having poor social and communication skills. Conventional wisdom and anecdotes tell us that engineers do not enjoy their mandatory technical communications courses, and nor do the English professors who have to teach them.
Through my readings and research, I hope to find the answers to such questions as:
- Is conventional wisdom true? Do engineers really have poor social and communication skills? Why?
- Why does the typical engineer dislike English, writing, and other “soft skills”?
- Do engineers need technical communication education? Why?
- What are the current methods used to teach engineers technical communication?
- Are there existing instructional design theories specific to teaching engineers, and anything specifically for writing or technical communication?
- Should engineers be taught technical communication by the engineering or English department?
I hope that as I research these questions, I will be able to settle upon my final research topic.
Ron
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