When I initially enrolled in this technical communications course, I was skeptical of whether it would prove to be applicable in real life settings especially considering the entirety of the course takes place online. Now that I am nearing the completion of this course, I can gladly say that I gained valuable insight, developed many critical skills and discovered important tools that will help me achieve my professional goals as I move forward with pursuing cooperative education.
For instance, a practical application of this course is developing key written communication skills that are important for a professional career. This course focused on writing letters of reference, email memorandums, resumes, cover letters, and periodically proof-reading and revising these written documents. Writing assignments and peer reviews of these literary mediums cemented the importance of professional technical communication.
The most eyeopening assignment personally throughout this process was creating the LinkedIn post regarding best practises. As an individual who did not previously utilize LinkedIn for all it’s professional benefits, this assignment allowed me to research and learn all about the important ways in which this platform can help you grow your professional career, and make connections with industry leaders through the simple click of a button. Since then, I have been regularly been using this networking application as I prepare for my upcoming co-op terms.
An aspect of this course that I really appreciated is the importance it places on collaborative learning and teamwork. I thoroughly enjoyed working with a team of individuals who were like-minded professionals who each brought a unique skillset that we were able to benefit from. Through this process, we were able to collaboratively share ideas and constructively critique each others’ work which in turn, made us better writers and professionals as we progressed through the course. I can confidently say part of my growth throughout this course can be attributed towards having had great team members who were reliable, insightful and communicative.
Undoubtedly, the skills that I have acquired after completing English 301 will transition nicely into the professional career I hope to pursue, in addition to proving to be useful in contexts outside of a work environment. I would like to thank my team members and my professor for a wonderful learning opportunity this term, and wish everyone the best in all their future endeavours.