Technical Writing & Communication
A Portfolio of My Learning at Arizona State University
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Thank you for taking the time to explore my Technical Writing and Communications portfolio. This portfolio was produced as the culminating project to my two years of studies at Arizona State University. My name is Emily Popple, and I am excited to be graduating with my M.S. in Technical Communications in May of 2021.
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While this portfolio has explored how I have grown as an academic and career-oriented technical communicator, I also want to share some insight into my personal life and how technical communications really impacts all levels of who I am as an individual. In addition to being a full-time Learning and Development Manager responsible for various technical communications within my company and a student currently, I am also a wife, daughter, friend, sister, and dog mom. When I first embarked on my academic journey with ASU, I didn't consider how my growth as a student might impact more than just my career, but I have found myself viewing the world from a very different lense since August of 2018.
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In my personal life I have seen how Technical Communications has helped me be a better communicator with my friends and family, especially in this past year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having a strong understanding of how we can communicate clearly and succinctly through virtual means has been vital to retaining meaningful relationships this past year, and has allowed me to stay successful in my career path in adapting to a fully virtual work environment.
When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our 3-year-old Golden Retriever, Charlie. We enjoy going on hikes, exploring new places to eat (or get takeout this past year), and working on home improvement projects. I have especially noticed as we continue to tackle various home projects just how vital clear communication can be both in the instructions we are following, and between the two of us as well!
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In looking toward the future, I am currently planning on remaining in my current role as it allows me the flexibility to utilize all of my favorite aspects of technical communication, including graphic design, content development, and usability. My team is solely responsible for the training development, implementation, company communications, and data visibility and design when it is being communicated to the field. We are also responsible for ensuring that our field employees can properly understand and implement new initiatives, which means we are tasked with continually considering what the end-user needs are at the onset of new projects. My learning in the TWC program at ASU has allowed me to develop and perfect these skills, and I am excited to see where my career will go in the future as I continue to learn and grow as a Technical Communicator!