New: PLA Live Virtual Courses
ISO Plain Language Standard for communicators and for organizations
ISO Plain Language Standard for communicators and for organizations
ISO Plain Language Standard: How it makes your communication easier (A 11)
Plain Language ISO Standard: How it makes your communication easier registration link
PLA Live: Plain Language ISO Standard: how it makes your communication easier
Weekly live virtual sessions: June 4, 11, 18, 25
Times to be decided
Fee: $340.00 CAD Pay via PayPal at plainlanguageacademy.moodlecloud.com
Register using your plainlanguageacademy.moodlecloud.com account.
Choose your course, select the PayPal P link and when payment is complete, you'll have access to your course.
Instructors: with Kate Harrison Whiteside and Nicole Watkins Campbell
The recent Plain Language International Standard gave us all a common definition and development guidelines. It put the focus on our audiences and how to plan, develop, design and test to ensure we really connect with them. It is one of the most important developments in our profession and we want to share it with you.
Goals
By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge and skills to apply the standard’s four key guidelines to your plain language writing. You will get tools, information, assignments and feedback. Successful completion leads to a Plain Language Academy Certificate.
Course
We use four live sessions (Teams) for this course. In each live session, we will share information, review ISO guidelines, answer questions, and give you an assignment. We have fixed the dates for all four live sessions, but will check with all registered learners on the most convenient times. If you cannot attend a class, we will send you a recording of it.Weekly assignments submitted to instructors for feedback. Final assignments will be presented in last class.
Dates
Wednesdays June 4, 11, 18, 25 2025. Times to be announced.
Topics:
June 4: Opening: Introduction to plain language ISO guidelines and learning more about your readers. Audience awareness.
June 11: Using text and design tools to help readers navigate – print and online.
June 18: Creating easy-to-understand information. Tips and techniques. Final assignment.
June 25: Measuring effective usability. Live group work testing for usability. Text supplied. Final assignments due. Activity contributes to final grade.
CAD $340.00|You pay your fees by setting up your Plainlanguageacademy.moodlecloud.com account. Then use the PayPal P link supplied next to course title. This registration process will give you access to your course.
If you need help or have questions, please email [email protected].
Instructors:
Kate Harrison Whiteside [email protected] My plain language training has been delivered in person, virtually, and online in Canada, US, Europe and South Africa. I have done projects and training for all levels of government and know the challenges faced.
As a co-creator of today’s global professional network Plain Language Association InterNational (PLAIN) and International Plain Language Day, my commitment is established. The online Plain Language Academies were developed to offer training to meet learners’ needs, be easily accessible, understandable and applicable. They reflect the global plain language standards in delivery and content.
In 2021, we won PLAIN’s Cheryl Stephens Innovation Award for our outstanding achievements.
I am passionate about plain language and motivated to share my skills and knowledge with others so they can experience the benefits too.
Nicole Watkins Campbell [email protected]I teach people to write and edit in plain language. I have taught through live sessions online and in person and through self-directed courses for nearly about 8 years. I edit government, non-profit, legal and technical information to make it clearer for the general public.
I have presented at three international plain language conferences and a Canadian editing conference.
My commitment to plain language has included providing feedback on Canada’s plain language accessibility standard and sitting on the executive of the Plain Language International Association board.
PLA Live: Plain Language ISO Standard: how it makes your communication easier
Weekly live virtual sessions: June 4, 11, 18, 25
Times to be decided
Fee: $340.00 CAD Pay via PayPal at plainlanguageacademy.moodlecloud.com
Register using your plainlanguageacademy.moodlecloud.com account.
Choose your course, select the PayPal P link and when payment is complete, you'll have access to your course.
Instructors: with Kate Harrison Whiteside and Nicole Watkins Campbell
The recent Plain Language International Standard gave us all a common definition and development guidelines. It put the focus on our audiences and how to plan, develop, design and test to ensure we really connect with them. It is one of the most important developments in our profession and we want to share it with you.
Goals
By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge and skills to apply the standard’s four key guidelines to your plain language writing. You will get tools, information, assignments and feedback. Successful completion leads to a Plain Language Academy Certificate.
Course
We use four live sessions (Teams) for this course. In each live session, we will share information, review ISO guidelines, answer questions, and give you an assignment. We have fixed the dates for all four live sessions, but will check with all registered learners on the most convenient times. If you cannot attend a class, we will send you a recording of it.Weekly assignments submitted to instructors for feedback. Final assignments will be presented in last class.
Dates
Wednesdays June 4, 11, 18, 25 2025. Times to be announced.
Topics:
June 4: Opening: Introduction to plain language ISO guidelines and learning more about your readers. Audience awareness.
June 11: Using text and design tools to help readers navigate – print and online.
June 18: Creating easy-to-understand information. Tips and techniques. Final assignment.
June 25: Measuring effective usability. Live group work testing for usability. Text supplied. Final assignments due. Activity contributes to final grade.
CAD $340.00|You pay your fees by setting up your Plainlanguageacademy.moodlecloud.com account. Then use the PayPal P link supplied next to course title. This registration process will give you access to your course.
If you need help or have questions, please email [email protected].
Instructors:
Kate Harrison Whiteside [email protected] My plain language training has been delivered in person, virtually, and online in Canada, US, Europe and South Africa. I have done projects and training for all levels of government and know the challenges faced.
As a co-creator of today’s global professional network Plain Language Association InterNational (PLAIN) and International Plain Language Day, my commitment is established. The online Plain Language Academies were developed to offer training to meet learners’ needs, be easily accessible, understandable and applicable. They reflect the global plain language standards in delivery and content.
In 2021, we won PLAIN’s Cheryl Stephens Innovation Award for our outstanding achievements.
I am passionate about plain language and motivated to share my skills and knowledge with others so they can experience the benefits too.
Nicole Watkins Campbell [email protected]I teach people to write and edit in plain language. I have taught through live sessions online and in person and through self-directed courses for nearly about 8 years. I edit government, non-profit, legal and technical information to make it clearer for the general public.
I have presented at three international plain language conferences and a Canadian editing conference.
My commitment to plain language has included providing feedback on Canada’s plain language accessibility standard and sitting on the executive of the Plain Language International Association board.
ISO Plain Language Standard: How to make it work in organizations (A12)
Next offering September 2025
Email your interest or questions to us at [email protected].
In 2023, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published the first international standard for Plain Language. The standard provides nearly universal Plain Language guidelines and techniques. In an organisational context, these guidelines and techniques can be translated into a content development process that delivers relevant, findable, understandable, and usable communication.This course will help you translate the principles and guidelines of the ISO Plain Language standard into a content development process tailored for your organisation.
Facilitators
Sarah Slabbert and Nadja Green, Plain Language Institute, South Africa
Note: If you have any questions, email us at [email protected] or [email protected]
Next offering September 2025
Email your interest or questions to us at [email protected].
In 2023, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published the first international standard for Plain Language. The standard provides nearly universal Plain Language guidelines and techniques. In an organisational context, these guidelines and techniques can be translated into a content development process that delivers relevant, findable, understandable, and usable communication.This course will help you translate the principles and guidelines of the ISO Plain Language standard into a content development process tailored for your organisation.
Facilitators
Sarah Slabbert and Nadja Green, Plain Language Institute, South Africa
Note: If you have any questions, email us at [email protected] or [email protected]
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Course Policy, Registration Cancellation or Withdrawal
We know circumstances change. If you register and pay for a course, you can withdraw prior to the start of course for an 90% rebate.
If you withdraw in the first 5 days of the course, you receive an 80% refund.
After one week, we will credit your fees to the same course in the future or another course of equal fees.
f you wait two weeks or more, no refund is available.
Courses are generally available for 8 weeks. After that, unless special permission has been granted, you will be removed from the course. If you wish to complete it at a future date, you will have to pay again.
We know circumstances change. If you register and pay for a course, you can withdraw prior to the start of course for an 90% rebate.
If you withdraw in the first 5 days of the course, you receive an 80% refund.
After one week, we will credit your fees to the same course in the future or another course of equal fees.
f you wait two weeks or more, no refund is available.
Courses are generally available for 8 weeks. After that, unless special permission has been granted, you will be removed from the course. If you wish to complete it at a future date, you will have to pay again.