In this eight-week course you’ll focus on creating written content for your community that is informative, engaging, and aligned with an overall purpose. We’ll introduce a new CSCCE framework that will help you to identify the different types of content that you may have in your communications toolkit, and the different functions of each towards encouraging member engagement. While we will visit examples of the different content types and the fundamentals of writing clear and actionable prose, this course should not simply be thought of as a writing 101 course. Instead, it introduces a holistic and strategic way of creating content to support your community – something that we believe we are the only organization to provide training about.
Where CODE fits in CSCCE’s community manager training catalog
CODE is a required course in the CSCCE Community Manager Certification Program, although you may take the course even if you are not working towards CSCCE community manager certification.
Prerequisites
Content Design (CODE) is for all community managers who are creating written content to engage their members. All learners must first complete Scientific Community Engagement Fundamentals and be actively managing a community, collaboration, or team.
Course overview
This course will involve a mix of short lectures, group discussions, individual and collaborative activities, and group workshops (aka “crits”), in which learners will practice their writing and editing skills. Each week we’ll meet for a 90 minute lesson and a 90 minute crit, and learners should anticipate some work outside of class time.
Each week’s session will include a written assignment, however learners can choose whether or not they would like to submit their assignment for feedback. To graduate from the course, learners must submit at least two assignments: one for peer-assessment and one for instructor feedback, and attend a majority of the sessions (two absences are permitted).
Learners who would appreciate more guidance from the instructors can sign up for additional office hours below.
Course syllabus and learning objectives
Please note, all course syllabi are currently in draft form. Please check back in September for additional details.
This course is still in its early development stages, and more details will be provided soon. Prospective learners can expect lessons to cover the following topics:
- Identifying the function of different types of community-engaged content, e.g., blog posts, newsletters, and social media posts
- Refining the voice and tone of your communications with different member types in your community and external audiences – and aligning the desired outcomes with CSCCE’s Community Participation Model
- Consider content formats for optimal engagement including using templates, images, and working with designers
- Curating and sharing your content, including reuse and licensing considerations
- Synthesis and “big picture” communications
This course will equip learners with new and enhanced skills in planning, developing and publishing content that is specifically designed to engage community members and advance the mission of the community. Using a new CSCCE framework, participants will explore the different functions of a range of types of written content, with opportunities to create content of their own, and receive feedback from staff and their peers.
The course will result in the creation of an actionable communications plan that draws upon multiple content types to support a content pillar (a significant output such as a landscape report or conference proceedings).
Instructors
This course is led by:
- Lou Woodley, CSCCE Director
- Katie Pratt, CSCCE Communications Director and Content Archivist
Pricing
Coming soon – please check back in January!
Included in the course fee
The benefits of taking CODE include:
- Access to worksheets and templates to use in your day-to-day community communications work
- Dedicated time for improving your writing and editing skills through instructor and peer feedback and discussion
- Tangible strategies for improving your community’s written outputs
- A dedicated cohort channel in CSCCE’s Slack community of practice where you can share ideas and resources with your classmates and facilitators
Participants in the CSCCE Community Manager Certification Program will also receive:
- Assessment of select course assignments by instructors
- A digital badge to confirm your graduation from the course (dependent on completion of all course requirements)
Office hours
For an additional fee, we can also provide individualized office hours during the course. These four, hour-long one-to-one sessions with a member of the CSCCE training team include:
- Review of your homework / worksheets.
- An opportunity to explore your questions about the course materials and your answers to the activities.
- A weekly tip-sheet for your supervisor to help to bridge the gap between what you’re learning during the course and implementation within your organization. This includes a short summary of the topics covered and suggested questions for discussion together.
Places for office hours are limited so please contact us early if you’d like to add this to your course participation: training@cscce.org.
Upcoming session
The pilot cohort of CODE will start on 25 April 2023 with live sessions taking place on Tuesdays and Fridays through 16 June. A detailed schedule and registration information is forthcoming.
Related consultancy offerings
CSCCE staff have extensive experience in delivering communications campaigns around key items of content (such as landscape reports or new guidebooks). We can help your organization to think through its current content and communications approach and how you might make it more engaging for community members – or create a specific campaign e.g., for a milestone event or publication.
If you’d like to learn more about our consulting services on this topic, please email training@cscce.org to schedule a conversation.