What You'll Get
The valuable benefits to this program include:
- A special session on Sunday evening—exclusively for certificate participants—to introduce you to the world of software user assistance.
- A chance to meet the other attendees new to the conference and software user assistance.
- LaunchPad Mentors will be on hand to help you plan your session selection strategy and answer your questions.
- A unique LaunchPad completion certificate and permanent placement on the WritersUA web site as a LaunchPad graduate await those who successfully complete the program.
How It Works
You can sign up for the program when you register. Just check the box on the registration form. However, there is a limit on the number of LaunchPad applicants we will be accepting. Spaces will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Sorry, the LaunchPad Certificate Program is not open to participants in the ProBooster Certificate Program.
 On the evening of Sunday, March 21, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, you will be required to attend an orientation meeting and introductory session, "Welcome to the World of User Assistance."
You will follow a carefully designed curriculum that introduces you to the most important foundation skills while allowing you time to explore individual interests. You need to attend five of the fifteen LaunchPad sessions and then attend any two other sessions of your choice during the course of the Conference.
The sessions you will be attending are open to all Conference attendees. You won't miss out on the chance to interact with hundreds of other Help authors.
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In addition to the LaunchPad Sessions, you are encouraged, but not required, to attend the Conference Opening Session and Closing Session.
REQUIRED:
Welcome to the World of Software User Assistance
Welinske • Sunday 5:00 - 6:30 pm
PICK FIVE:
Writing Help Procedures That Work
Guren • Sunday 1:00 - 4:30pm
Optional Seminar - Supplemental Fee Required
Enabling Feedback and Collaboration Within Help
Ellison • Monday 10:30 - 11:30am
RoboHelp Authoring - Consistency Made Simple
Perlin • Monday 12:45 - 1:45pm
Making Metadata Work
Crandall • Monday 12:45 - 1:45pm
Structures, Semantics, Controls, and More: HTML 5 is Here!
James-Tanny • Monday 2:05 - 3:05pm
Single-Sourcing with Flare (Hands-on Double Session)
Perlin • Tuesday 8:30 - 10:50am
From Info Strategy to Info Types
Boiko • Tuesday 9:50 - 10:50pm
Microsoft Help Preview
O'Rear • Tuesday 11:10am - 12:10pm
A Look at DocBook 5.0 and Comparisons with DITA
Hamilton • Tuesday 1:25 - 2:25pm
Flare Tips and Tricks
DeLoach • Wednesday 8:30 - 9:30am
Wireframing Tools and Techniques
Hughes • Wednesday 9:50 - 10:50am
Double Scoop Case Studies • Theme: Project Planning
Bleiel and Kingston • Wednesday 1:05 - 2:05pm
Turning Search into Find
Ellison • Wednesday 2:25 - 3:25pm
OPEN ELECTIVE:
Attend any two additional sessions from the conference program as your open electives. A Supplemental Seminar counts as an Open Elective but you must pay the additional Seminar fee.
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If you're new to the user assistance field, welcome. The WritersUA Conference offers a wealth of information and networking opportunities, but we recognize that it can be intimidating to meet new people and difficult to make the right session selections.