POTSDAM -- Clarkson University Professor Johndan Johnson-Eilola, a professor in Clarkson’s Communication and Media Department, co-edited “Solving Problems in Technical Communication,” published in January by the University of Chicago Press.

The book features 19 chapters by 27 authors and offers lessons and strategies to college upperclassmen and graduate students studying technical communication.

The book is also intended for professionals in other communications fields looking to transition into a career as technical communicator -- those who can explain the intricacies of technology to wide audiences.

It covers everything from information design and new media to the history, ethics and legalities of technical communication. The authors are a mix of award-winning researchers in the field as well as emerging media scholars.

“This is something in between a textbook and a professional resource,” says Johnson-Eilola.

The book aims to show students that what they’ve learned in class can be applied to their first jobs in technical communication, and expands and enhances that knowledge base. It draws parallels between classwork and careers that will help students transition to their post-graduation life, Johnson-Eilola says.

“Moving from the classroom to your first job is always a bit intimidating,” he says. "We're hoping this will help students more effectively move from the classroom to the workplace."

The book is the culmination of five years of editing Johnson-Eilola completed with Stuart Selber, an associate professor of English and an affiliate associate professor of information sciences and technology at Penn State University.

Johnson-Eilola coordinates Clarkson’s Communication Internship Program and teaches courses in new media, audio production, typography, and design. He has authored nearly 50 journal articles and book chapters and six books. He received his doctoral degree in rhetoric and technical communication from Michigan Technological University.