What is Technological Adaptability?

Speakers

Melonie McMichael
Senior Instructor, University of Colorado Colorado Springs and proprietor of the consulting firm Technodaptability

Start

May 16, 2018 - 2:00 PM

End

May 16, 2018 - 3:00 PM

What is Technological Adaptability?

In technical communication, we often talk about the need for technology skills. However, we need more than the latest trending software. We need to be able to adapt to new technologies, both the publication technologies we use to deliver information and the varied technologies that we document. What we need is to be technologically adaptable.

This presentation will:

  • Define technological adaptability
  • Provide the history of the concept
  • Discuss the differences between technological adaptability and technological literacy
  • Discuss the differences between rote learning and adaptable learning
  • Explore the concept as both a skill and an attitude
  • Discuss ways that technical communicators can cultivate the skill

Many technical communicators are already technologically adaptable, without having a name for the skill. They focus on learning technology skills without realizing that they are cultivating technological adaptability. One thing we can be sure of, the technology we encounter will change. If we focus on cultivating and expanding our adaptability skills, as a field we will be ready for these changes.

Technological adaptability is a required skill for most technical communicators. In this session, we will explore exactly what that means for our industry.

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