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Instructor Information
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Name:
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Dr. Nancy W. Coppola
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Email:
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coppola@njit.edu
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Office location:
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Cullimore Hall 408
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Office hours:
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Thursday 1:00 to 2:00 and by appointment
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Phone:
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973.596.5726
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Biography:
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Director, Master of Science in Professional and Technical
Communication; Professor, Department of Humanities, College of
Science and Liberal Arts; New Jersey Institute of Technology University
Heights Newark, NJ 07102-1982
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Course Information
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Course title:
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Communication in
Technology Transfer and Innovation
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Course number:
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PTC 644 & MGMT
644
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Course description:
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In order to help prepare students for careers in a
market-oriented productive economy, this course builds on the understanding
that communication is essential to innovation development and technology
transfer. Students first review the principles of successful technical
communication and the models and literature of communication in technology
transfer. Then, students apply this knowledge in team-based projects to
develop Technology Transfer Communication Strategy (TTCS) for technology
start-up companies as needed (business plans, documentation, technical
reports, etc.)
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Course purpose:
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Technology transfer and innovation are
synonymous with growth in a global economy. The
National Science Foundation’s
biennial report, Science and Engineering Indicators 2006
(National Science Board, 2006) shows that U.S. research and development is
strongly rebounding, federal stimulation of small business innovation is
increasing, and venture capital for start-up companies is strengthening. Effective
communication is essential to successful technology transfer. In fact, a sampling
of the many disciplines that acknowledge communication’s role in
enabling technology transfer and diffusion include agriculture (Postlewait, Parker & Zilberman,
1993), aerospace (Ornatowski, 1998), defense
industry (Van Nostrand, 1997), electronic
engineering (Allen, 1984), and software (Amsden
& Amsden). Therefore, this course provides
critical awareness and skill building for communication in technology
transfer and innovation.
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Course date:
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August 31, 2009, through Tuesday, December 09, 2009
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Location:
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Moodle
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Prerequisite(s):
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Graduate standing in MS in Professional and Technical
Communication or School
of Management
graduate
programs, or permission of the instruction.
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Textbooks
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Required reading:
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No textbook. A Course Reading Packet of journal articles and white papers will be availble in our Moodle course.
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Policies
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Introduction:
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MSPTC faculty and administrators use ONLY NJIT email accounts
for sending important messages about the program, deadlines, courses, etc.
Make sure you check your NJIT email account regularly. In fact, the best
practice is to set your NJIT email to forward to the account you check most
often.
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Additional information:
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NJIT is a computing-intensive university. Every NJIT student
is provided with a software bundle that includes the most frequently used
Microsoft products, virus protection, programming, design, and other tools.
The retail value of this bundle is in excess of $2,000. As well, the NJIT Library
provides access to articles in over 16,000 journal titles, almost all
available online. Materials such as book, article, patent, thesis, report,
can be ordered through the NJIT Interlibrary Loan / Document Delivery Service
Office. The library staff will arrange for the delivery of books and
photocopies of articles, either by mail or fax. For materials not owned by
the NJIT library, the ILL Office will obtain them from another library. As
well, the NJIT Library maintains a Virtual Reference Desk and an opportunity
to have a live conversation with a librarian.
In order to access these materials and maximize your learning
experience, you will need
- Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP
Professional high-speed internet connection access from a computer that
is not behind a firewall. Access to Moodle and to
synchronous chat are often prevented by many companies' security
policies. Please check with your company if you plan to access this
course from work.
- Familiarity with using the computer as a tool
of learning.
- Fluency with Microsoft Word, and confidence in
exploring the Internet.
- Commitment to distance learning as a mode of
education. You should be prepared to visit the course website daily and
post observations in discussion groups. If technical problems arise, you
will not let these stand in the way of obtaining material and submitting
work.
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Course Schedule
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Week
1
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Defining
the Field
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Reading:
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TCQ: Coppola,
“Communication in Technology Transfer and Diffusion: Defining the
Field,” 285-292. Other readings to be assigned.
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Assignment:
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Assignment
1: Based on a self-assessment skill and knowledge survey, students write
analysis of proficiencies. Analyses will be used in interdisciplinary team
formation. Discussion 1: Negotiating Knowledge
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Week
2
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Looking
Back
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Reading:
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TCQ: Wickliff, “Light
Writing: Technology Transfer and Photography to 1845; other readings to be assigned.
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Assignment:
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Assignment
2: Understanding the Entrepreneurial Spirit; paper examines an oral history
of innovating pioneer, downloaded from IEEE History
Center’s oral
histories. Discussion 2: Adapting New Technologies to Users
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Week
3
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Looking
Forward
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Reading:
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TCQ: Mirel and
Johnson, “Social Determinants of Preparing a Cyber-Infrastructure
Innovation for Diffusion”; other readings to be assigned.
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Assignment:
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Assignment
3: What We Can Learn from Business Planning Documents; analysis of case
study from the Business Plan
Archive, a partnership with the
Library of Congress, the Center for History and New Media, and the
University of Maryland Libraries. Discussion 3: Complex Problem Solving and
Group Social Dynamics.
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Week
4
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User-Centered
Communication
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Reading:
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TCQ:
Dayton
,
“A Hybrid Analytical Framework to Guide Studies of Innovative IT
Adoption by Work Groups”; other readings to be assigned.
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Assignment:
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Assignment
4: Review “Product Development of the CartoMerge® Image Integration Technology for Treating
Complex Arrhythmias - A Case Study on Technology Innovation &
Usability," from Usability NJ, member of Usability Professionals
Association. Create User and Task Profile. Discussion 4: Evaluating Online
Information for User-Centered Design
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Week
5
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Developing
a Communication Package for Technology Transfer
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Reading:
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TCQ:
Thatcher, “Intercultural Rhetoric, Technology Transfer, and Writing
in
U.S. –Mexico
Boarder Maquilas” ; other readings to be assigned.
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Assignment:
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Assignment
5: Review case study, Secret Project at Softec,
in Doheny-Farina Appendix. Student teams are divided into teams, each with
three corporative divisions – finance, production, and marketing
– that collaborate on design of a product development project.
Deliverable: team-written report to Softec
president with new product development analysis. Discussion 5: Adapting Communication for Global
Audiences
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Week
6
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Enterprise Development Center
(EDC) Project: Team Formation and Start-Up
Company Introduction
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Assignment:
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Assignment
6: Team Formation with Management
Plan outlining roles, responsibilities, and policies. Introduction to
project client. Discussion: At this point in course, discussion of textbook
materials ends as students develop group projects.
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Week
7
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Researching
and Managing Company Information
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Assignment:
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Assignment 7: Each student contributes to the
repository of information on the project client, including interviews,
search of public records, etc. Students document sources and write an
information memo for the client project archive.
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Week
8
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Technical
Description for Lay Audience
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Assignment:
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Assignment
8: From project client, collect data
on one technical product suitable for an expert audience and create a
technical description of the product for a lay audience. Students learn
partitioning, description by senses, similes, analogies, and metaphors, and
designing visuals.
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Week
9
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Project
Planning and Persuasion
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Assignment:
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Assignment
9: Teams create user profiles of client companies establishing needs,
values, and attitudes of primary, secondary, tertiary, and gatekeeper
audiences. Teams develop project objectives, convert objectives into tasks,
set a timeline, and follow consistent process for planning Technology
Transfer Communication Strategy (TTCS). .
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Week
10
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Proposal
of Technology Transfer Communication Strategy (TTCS).
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Assignment:
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Assignment
10: Teams plan proposal’s content, organization, style, and design.
They write and submit to client a proposal that presents plans for
Technology Transfer Communication Strategy (TTCS). .
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Weeks
11, 12, 13
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Development
of Individual Tasks in Technology Transfer Communication Strategy
(TTCS).
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Assignments
and deliverables during this period depend upon clients’ needs in
transferring technology and innovation. Deliverables might include an
improved website, press release, or grant proposal.
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Week
14
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Final
Client Evaluation for Revision
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Assignment:
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Throughout
this process, the clients have provided feedback and revisions have been
made. This week allows for final evaluation and revision.
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Week
15
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Presentation
of Technology Transfer Communication Strategy (TTCS). for Clients
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Assignment:
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Students
present the team’s Technology Transfer Communication Strategy
(TTCS). on campus with virtual
presentations from remote students through software and facilities provided
by Instructional Technology and Media Services
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Grading
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Lesson:
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Total points for course = 100
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Objectives or Goals:
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GRADES: Participate in online asynchronous discussions in
bulletin board and live chat (when scheduled). You should check into the Moodle course and discussion board several times a week to keep current and
add to dialogue. Substance as well as frequency counts. Original posting each
week: 1 point (15 points) Responses each week: 1 point (15 points);
Assignments: 70 points
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Topics:
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This syllabus gives general topics that have been assigned in the past. Topics, readings, and assignments are detailed in the Course
Roadmap (located as a link on the course homepage in Moodle).
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