Olivia Hugentobler - MSTC Portfolio
Thank you for taking the time to view my portfolio. My name is Olivia Hugentobler, and I am a master’s student in the Technical Communication program. The purpose of this portfolio is to organize and display the projects I have worked on during the course of the MSTC program. These projects display my growth as a technical communicator.
Metacognitive Narrative
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Hello, thank you for taking the time to view my portfolio. My name is Olivia Hugentobler, and I am a master’s student in the Technical Communication program. The purpose of this portfolio is to organize and display the projects I have worked on during the course of the MSTC program. These projects display my growth as a technical communicator. The metacognitive statement (what you are now listening to) will aid this portfolio by allowing me to think critically about each project, reflect on my learnings, and analyze how each impacted my journey as a TC professional.
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When organizing this portfolio, two key concepts came to mind. I consider these concepts fundamental takeaways that have guided me throughout the program and shaped my thinking as I complete the program. The first is how I view technical communication's practice and profession and its roles in the workforce. When I began my studies, I categorized technical communication as simply technical writing. I thought you only needed to write well to be a good technical communicator. However, this thought process has shifted throughout the MSTC program. I now have more skills and tools to propel me in the workforce and view technical communication in a new light. This threshold concept has allowed me to expand my thinking and develop crucial skills.
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The other fundamental takeaway was my connection to the threshold concept of user advocacy as a technical communicator and how it shaped every aspect of my work and my growth as a technical communication professional. Both these takeaways are demonstrated by the coursework projects shown in this portfolio. Each displayed project accomplishes one or more of the MSTC program outcomes, which are “Rhetorical Knowledge,” “Critical Thinking, Analysis, and Research,” “Practices and Processes,” and “Technology.”
Threshold Concepts
A threshold concept is a concept that, once understood, transforms the perception of a given subject, phenomenon, or experience. They are concepts that shape your thinking, transform your work, and cannot be forgotten.
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Overcoming the idea that technical communicators are simply technical writers was the first threshold concept I came to understand. This knowledge allowed me to expand my thinking and develop crucial skills. I could look beyond writing and view myself as a content manager, a community steward, a user experience designer, a social media strategist, a user advocate, and more. This knowledge is crucial for technical communicators as we advocate for ourselves and our work. If we do not limit ourselves and the value we hold, we can transform projects, products, and entire workplaces.
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Learning to become a user advocate is another crucial threshold concept that makes technical communicators invaluable in the workplace. A “user advocate” is a professional who operates from the perspective that their work must serve the user's needs above all else. User advocacy puts your audience and their needs first. It is crucial in everything you do as a technical communicator. Learning to break away from my wants and needs of a product and instead try to champion the product’s users was difficult to learn at first. It can be hard to step away from the idea that we know what is best for a project or product. However, through lectures and assignments, I recognized the value of putting your users first. This skill is one I will continue to work towards, as it is critically important to the field of technical communication.