We've moved to Moodle plainlanguageacademy.moodlecloud.com
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You can take all the courses, or just the ones that interest you. Our Foundation Program is built on Core and Advanced courses. Begin your plain language learning journey by understanding the real meaning of and the process of clear communication. Then enhance your awareness of your audience and improve your writing and editing skills. Find out how to apply important clear design guidelines. Build a tool kit of testing and evaluating methods that suit your needs. And, apply it all in the project course. Our Advanced courses are designed to meet the growing demand for specialized knowledge: legal, health, online content; science and strategic planning. We will soon be opening our Spanish and French Academies. Certificates are presented for successful course completion. Letter of Achievement is sent to you when six are completed successfully, the first three core courses and any three others. Three steps to your next course 1. Go to: . plainlanguageacademy.moodlecloud.com 2. Create your own Moodle account. 3. Choose the course/s you want and register. See the calendar below for dates. |
Our first course for fall 2021 starts August 16. A5 Implementing Plain Language as a Strategic Priority
with Sarah Slabbert and Nadja Green, Plain Language Institute, SA. Register now. Limited enrolment. $275.00 CAD See below for details.
with Sarah Slabbert and Nadja Green, Plain Language Institute, SA. Register now. Limited enrolment. $275.00 CAD See below for details.
Core Courses
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C1: Plain Language Basics
Register now. Starts September 1. $250.00 CAD Goals After completing this course, you will be able to identify and locate existing information on:
Outline Module 1: What is Plain Language? Module 2: Use Plain Language to Solve Problems Module 3: Making the Message Clearer Module 4: Review and Wrap-up Module 5: Quiz Module 6: Assignment Facilitator Kate Harrison Whiteside, Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com. |
C2 : Audience Awareness
Register now. Starts September 15. $250.00 CAD Goals You will gain skills in:
Module 1: Knowing your audience Module 2: Understanding your audience Module 3: Design, accessibility, audience needs Module 4: Review and resources Module 5: Quiz Module 6: Assignment Facilitator Kate Harrison Whiteside , Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com. |
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Course 3: Plain Language Writing and Editing
Register now. Starts October 1. $250.00 CAD Goals After completing this course you will be able to:
Outline Module 1: Planning for Clarity Module 2: Plain Language Writing Module 3: Plain Language Editing Module 4: Questions Module 5: Assignment Facilitator Kate Harrison Whiteside , Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com. |
The Plain Language Academies won the 2021 PLAIN Cheryl Stephens Award for Innovation for ground-breaking contribution to the field of plain language. |
Advanced Courses
All Advanced courses include one live session with your instructor.
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A1 Creating Clear E-content
Register now. Starts October 8. $275.00.CAD Goals Online content, whether for websites, social media or electronic communications (emails, texts) is now part of our daily communications. We need to adapt our style of writing to these platforms. Plain language puts readers first and online readers have specific characteristics. Knowing how to write clear, concise, effective online content for readers and platforms will help you connect. Integrating plain language practices into your online content development is important to succeed. Outline 1. Why we need clear e-content. 2. Planning online content 3. Building audience awareness 4. Writing online conversations 5. Content and visual design 6. Testing and evaluating Assignment Facilitator Kate Harrison Whiteside, Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com. |
A2 Editing for Plainer Legal Writing —
for writers with no legal training Register now. Starts September 13 $275.00.CAD Goals This six-week course is for anyone who has to edit legal materials to be clear and user-friendly, whether or not you have a legal background. Outline You will learn:
This course gives a certificate of achievement after your assignments are completed and marked. Facilitator Nicole Watkins Campbell, Watkins Campbell Communications. |
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A3 Plain Language 2.0 and Health Literacy
(now on Academy Educlaro) Both English and Spanish versions of this course start Sept 26. $275.00 USD Goals In this course, we will explore the intersection between health literacy and plain language to promote successful health communication. Health literacy is defined as the ability to find, understand, and process information to make healthcare decisions. Plain language has a vital role to play in fostering access, understanding, and usability of health information. Outline 1. Health Literacy as a Complex Construct 2. Plain Language for Health Communication 3. Writing Strategies for Clarity 4. Live Recap and Final Project Facilitator Romina Marazzato Sparano, Language Compass, USA |
A4 Science Supports Plain Language
$275.00 CAD Next course: 2022. Keep it simple: the science behind plain language, and why you should use it Goals Research shows the less work audiences need to put into reading, the more they will find sources credible, and the better they will connect with the messages. You will learn the most up-to-date techniques, drawn from neuroscience, linguistics, and cognitive psychology. We'll explore how to make the reader's work easier and fluent. Outline You will be introduced to best practices in:
Facilitator Cheryl Stephens, Cheryl Stephens.com |
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A5 Implementing Plain Language
as a Strategic Priority Register now. Limited enrolment. Starts Sept 6. $275.00 CAD Goals The focus of Plain Language actions is often on specific documents or pieces of communication. Implementing Plain Language in a systematic manner in an organization is, however, a different challenge for executives, compliance officers, communication managers or customer relations. This course will empower you to make your organization truly customer- or citizen-centred. Outline Module 1: A framework for implementing Plain Language as a strategic priority Module 2: Getting leadership buy-in for Plain Language Module 3: Developing a business plan for Plain Language Module 4: Establishing a Plain Language process Module 5: Creating sustainable excitement for Plain Language Module 6: Monitoring process and demonstrating return on investment Facilitators Sarah Slabbert and Nadja Green, Plain Language Institute, South Africa Note: Course is 6-8 weeks long If you have any questions, email us at sarah@plain-language.co.za or nadja@plain-language.co.za |
A6: Focus on Feedback
Register now. Starts Oct 15. $275.00 CAD Goals After completing this course, you will:
Module 1: The role testing plays Module 2: How to plan for testing Module 3: Choosing a testing method Module 4: Questions Module 5: Assignment Facilitator Kate Harrison Whiteside, Key Advice and PlainLanguageAcademy.com |
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A 7: Clear Design Practices
Register now. November 1. $275.00 CAD Goals When you complete this course, you will be:
Module 1: Introduction and Overview Module 2: Layout Module 3: Typography Module 4: Other Graphic Elements Module 5: Quiz Module 6: Assignment Facilitator Flora Gordon, Flora Gordon Design + Imagery |
A8: Plain Language Project Leadership
Register now. Starts October 1. Join anytime in Oct. $275.00.CAD Plain Language Project Leadership encompasses the whole plain language process, focusing on a project client document. This course lets you to practice leading a complete a project with guidance, feedback, and support. You will develop a project plan, content, and a report. Benefits
Facilitator Cheryl Stephens, Cheryl Stephens.com |
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A9 Editing for Plainer Technical Writing
for people who prepare technical information for non-technical readers Register now. Starts Nov 8 $275.00.CAD This six-week course is for anyone who prepare technical information for non-technical readers. You might write:
This course gives a certificate of achievement after your assignments are completed and marked. Facilitator Nicole Watkins Campbell, Watkins Campbell Communications. |
Our Spanish Academy, Educlaro, is now live.
Plain Language 2.0 and Health Literacy now available in English and Spanish. |
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 80% 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. 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 80% 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. 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.