844-897-3935The following are suggested workshop titles and descriptions. We will tailor your workshop to meet your learners' specific needs and requests!
{T} for TypeWell transcribers
{C} for Service Coordinators
{T, C} can be presented to a mixed group of transcribers and Coordinators, if requested
Science, Tech, Engineering & Math (STEM Classes): Producing Quality Transcripts Consistently {T}
STEM classes are typically dense with special terminology, numbers, and symbols that can't be “chunked” (condensed into fewer words). This is why STEM classes are particularly challenging for real-time transcribers. Learn how transcribers and service coordinators can set reasonable expectations for math/science students. In this workshop, transcribers will listen to and transcribe short lecture segments to learn and apply several “best practices” for capturing math/science content. Practice segments will address the following skills: how and when to transcribe equations from the board; efficient use of the Math Mode dictionary; and how to quickly format transcripts to support readability and comprehension.
Demystifying the “Transcriber's Summary” {T}
Videos and other recorded media are frequently used to supplement classroom instruction. TypeWell transcribers are trained to condense spoken information and present it in a meaning-for‐meaning format. They are also trained not to attempt to capture every word that is spoken when someone shows a video or reads from a book. (Attempting to “transcribe” a video gives the linked reader, professor, and other students in the classroom the incorrect notion that the reader is getting all the same information as the hearing students when, in fact, it is impossible for a reader to simultaneously view two different screens at the same time.) TypeWell transcribers are instructed to summarize media in real-time, whether that media is captioned or uncaptioned. Summarizing—which is different than chunking—is a challenging skill to teach and learn and it is a skill that transcribers must master separately from their real-time transcribing work. This workshop will provide strategies to help transcribers strengthen their real-time summarization skills, and guidelines for how to appropriately capture content from classroom videos (with or without prep time).
Formatting & Editing: Strategies for Improving Real-Time Readability {T}
Too much white space or not enough? Indent, boldface, italicize, or underline? The goal of formatting/editing is to improve the readability and usefulness of your transcripts, especially with the increased use of PowerPoint or other multi-media presentations in the classroom. Learn real-time formatting strategies that can help the reader quickly follow the flow of the lecture or discussion. Prioritize your editing tasks so that even when after-class editing time is limited, you can maximize what's most useful for the reader.
Reducing Wordiness by Improving Your Chunking Skills {T}
Even the most experienced transcribers can practice new shortcuts and strategies to improve their working memory. Learn about brain research findings that are relevant to real-time transcribing, and how to dramatically improve the ease, speed, and quality of real-time chunking. This session will focus on practical strategies for understanding a speaker's message quickly and efficiently, while enhancing your expressive skills.
What’s Changed (and What Hasn’t) in the TW Basic Skills Course {T, C}
This workshop is designed for groups with mixed levels of experience, i.e. transcribers who trained long ago and those who trained more recently. What changes and updates have been made to the TypeWell Basic Skills Course over the past several years, and why? Hands-on practice with real-world examples will help bring experienced transcribers up to date and will provide newer transcribers with additional background and review.
Mentoring New Transcribers: Techniques for Fostering Skill Development {T, C}
Online mentorship can help new transcribers keep their skills fresh between the time they complete their training and begin working in the classroom. Learn about useful resources for independent and guided transcribing practice, common error patterns displayed by new transcribers, suggestions for how to provide constructive feedback, and reasonable timelines for practice and check-ins.
Recruiting Top-Notch Candidates for the TypeWell Basic Skills Course {C}
Whether your site is rural or urban, well-funded or running on a shoestring budget, finding qualified candidates for the TypeWell course can be challenging. Learn about different approaches to recruiting, resources that other sites have developed, lessons learned, and pitfalls to avoid.
Ethical Decision-Making {T, C}
Service providers often face situations that require sound ethical decision making skills, both in and out of the classroom. This workshop aims to help participants recognize ethical issues and explore methods for evaluating decisions and consequences through role-playing and discussion. Topics include consumer confidentiality, the transcriber’s professional code of ethics, and the importance of understanding site-specific policies.
Quality Assurance: Assessing Transcribers’ Skills and Developing a Culture of Continuous Improvement {T, C}
TypeWell implements a range of quality assurance measures into its formal training programs, which are supplemented by each employer's commitment to assessing and evaluating their own service providers. Learn how some schools have incorporated TypeWell's tools and assessments into their own quality assurance programs, from informal peer-to-peer mentoring programs all the way up to formal leveling programs that factor into employee promotion and career advancement.