Technical Author Training and Report Writing Courses from ESTON Training

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Distance Learning
Are ESTON TRAINING's distance learning courses only available in the United Kingdom?
What is Distance Learning?
What is tutorial support?
Where is ESTON TRAINING?
Who purchases ESTON TRAINING courses?

Technical/Commercial Authorship
How do I enrol?
If I'm unemployed, can I get funding?
What are my employment prospects as a qualified Technical/Commercial Author?
What does a Technical/Commercial Author do?
What is the full range of ESTON'S Technical/Commercial Authorship courses?
What is the ISTC?
What qualification can I obtain after completing the course?
Why is Technical/Commercial Author training necessary?


Distance Learning
Are ESTON TRAINING's distance learning courses only available in the United Kingdom?	Top
Although ESTON TRAINING has its offices in the United Kingdom, our distance learning training courses are available (via the Internet) to individuals and companies throughout the world. We have associates in Australia, South Africa and India and we are currently negotiating to sell our courses in China and Malaysia.

What is Distance Learning?	Top
Distance learning is a method of study that does not require you to attend any structured classroom sessions or lectures. It is a flexible learning scheme, like the Open University, designed to overcome many of the traditional barriers to training such as releasing people from work and having groups of students available simultaneously. You can work in your own time at your own pace, wherever you choose. Distance learning is the training method for the 21st century. Training on a major subject usually calls for lengthy, and often inconvenient, periods of work release. Courses are expensive and accommodation costs are high. This means that traditional classroom courses tend to be too short to cover the subjects thoroughly. Additionally, the backlog that greets your return to work often means that you don’t get the chance to introduce innovative ideas while they are fresh in your mind. Many new initiatives never see the light of day. Distance learning overcomes all of these barriers. It is now one of the main teaching techniques in industry and higher education. Course participants do not need to be released from work, the cost of training is much lower, and there are no additional accommodation costs to pay. The course contains all the training needed and gives you the freedom to learn at your own pace. You can implement new ideas as the course progresses. Instead of being one in a class of many, the only participants in distance learning are you and your ESTON TRAINING tutor.

What is tutorial support?	Top
The best way to judge your performance and identify weaknesses is to have your work evaluated critically against objectives and acknowledged standards by expert and experienced tutors. ESTON TRAINING tutors are all knowledgeable, senior technical authors, with many years technical publications management experience gained from working in the United Kingdom and abroad. Each exercise you submit is commented upon by your tutor, who will provide guidance and additional information, as appropriate. Thoroughness of the personal tutorial is recognised by individuals and companies alike as a special feature of ESTON TRAINING. Although your exercises are submitted and returned by e-mail, you are always welcome to telephone for additional help and advice if you need it.

Where is ESTON TRAINING?	Top
ESTON TRAINING is a British company that was established in the United Kingdom in 1982. Our head office has recently moved to Nantwich in Cheshire.

Who purchases ESTON TRAINING courses?	Top
ESTON TRAINING'S courses are purchased by both companies and individuals in the United Kingdom and throughout the world. Employers purchase ESTON TRAINING courses for their employees to ensure that they are professionally trained and that they communicate at all levels, with quality information. Most activities rely on the quality of information and how well it is used. Decisions are not usually made on real facts, but on the information that the decision maker actually understands, which is a significant yet subtle distinction. Any individual who completes an ESTON TRAINING course becomes more professional in dealing with information and people, both in writing and face-to-face, thereby improving the image presented to both potential employers and colleagues.

Technical/Commercial Authorship
How do I enrol?	Top
You can enrol at any time to suit yourself, because distance learning can be tailored to fit in with your individual requirements and circumstances. Simply complete the enrolment form for the courses you want to study.

If I'm unemployed, can I get funding?	Top
The situation regarding funding and sponsorship varies from country to country, and with new government initiatives. Contact your local job centre and ask about the various incentives for which you may be eligible. You could also try local Training and Enterprise offices or the Chamber of Commerce for advice. Do be persistent and track down any leads you can find. We are happy to discuss our training courses with anyone who enquires on your behalf, so please ask them to contact us.

What are my employment prospects as a qualified Technical/Commercial Author?	Top
Unlike so many other applications of technical/commercial expertise, Technical and Commercial Authorship is an expanding field. There is continuing demand for trained technical and commercial writers and authors, both men and women, in industry and commerce. Usually the subject you are asked to write about is new to you. You draw on your experience rather than an in-depth, detailed knowledge of a particular aircraft system or computer program. After all, it is mainly new products that need documentation, so you are unlikely to have prior specialist knowledge. Note that age is not a barrier, especially if you are considering taking contract work either in the UK or abroad. ESTON TRAINING has established links with a recruitment agency whose facilities are available, free of charge, to any ESTON TRAINING student seeking employment. All you have to do is send us your Curriculum Vitae.

What does a Technical/Commercial Author do?	Top
A technical/commercial author establishes the documentation requirements for a project. The author researches the information by study, discussion, correspondence and so forth, and then verifies its accuracy and suitability for the customer. The technical/commercial author must also be a project manager - establishing contractual commitments, preparing synopses, estimating hours and costs, establishing a production programme, designing and planning publications, instructing illustrators, graphic designers and printers. All this must be rolled together to produce a manual or brochure that the intended reader can easily understand. Oh yes - the author actually writes the manual too!

What is the full range of ESTON'S Technical/Commercial Authorship courses?	Top
We offer a comprehensive range of competitively-priced courses designed to cover all aspects of Technical and Commercial Authorship. The duration of the courses, and the amount of study involved, rather depends on the time and effort you put in when preparing responses to the course exercises.

What is the ISTC?	Top
The Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators (ISTC) is the largest UK-based institute for professional writers and communicators (including technical and commercial authors).

What qualification can I obtain after completing the course?	Top
For all distance learning courses ESTON TRAINING will provide you with a diploma provided that you have studied the course and completed it successfully.

Why is Technical/Commercial Author training necessary?	Top
Many of us have heard and probably voiced dissatisfaction with the quality of operating instructions and pamphlets supplied with equipment, such as a new DVD player or washing machine. It is not that the equipment is intrinsically difficult to set up and program, it’s just that the muddled instructions that come with it make it seem far more complicated than it really is. Competent, well-trained Technical and Commercial Authors know how to avoid these pitfalls, and can use their authorship skills to write simply and effectively about anything from computer software and aeroplanes to banking systems and insurance products.