Welcome

Currently, I'm a tenured Associate Professor in the Technical Communication and Rhetoric Program at Texas Tech University. My research interests include hypertext theory, online publishing, online instructional design, report writing, and visual rhetoric. As far as current projects, I've completed final edits for an article on corporate blogging and an article on hypertext theory influence on Web 2.0 technologies.

Writing for the Internet: A Guide to Real Communication in Virtual Space

This is my newest book, co-authored with Robert Schaller, published by Greenwood Press and sold by major booksellers. Online writing has an urgency and immediacy pre-Internet media does not--and it requires rethinking much of what writers are traditionally taught. This book addresses a broad range of topics related to Internet writing, including online publishing, new media news writing, blogging, micro-blogging, Internet writing technologies, and other forms of social media. It also addresses theories, methods, and practices used by Internet writers and online journalists from a wide range of backgrounds.

Web Development: A Visual-Spatial Approach

This is my first book, published by Prentice Hall, and is sold by major booksellers. It is a Web development reference for students, professionals, as well as experienced designers. The book focuses on specific tasks and phases of Web development, including planning, content, scripting, structure, navigation, interface design, usability, and accessibility, and how they interrelate in an iterative development process. The book centers around core visual-spatial characteristics of Web sites, with a foundation in Gestalt theory and visual thinking research.

Research

My research interests include hypertext theory, online publishing, instructional design, report writing, and visual rhetoric. I received the Society of Technical Communication's Distinguished Technical Communcation Award for my co-authored article "Visual-spatial Thinking in Hypertexts."

Recent and Noteworthy Projects

Teaching

I teach onsite and online courses in technical communiation and rhetoric at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Specific course subjects include Web development, visual rheotric, instructional design, publishing, and report writing.

My Teaching Philosophy Statement

Courses Taught

Biography

I'm a tenured Associate Professor in the Technical Communication and Rhetoric Program in Texas Tech University's English Department. I've been at Texas Tech since 2002 and previously taught at the University of New Mexico. My dissertation work examined the use of visual-spatial thinking in the design of hypertexts and specifically Web sites. I am the author of two books, Web Development: A Visual-Spatial Approach (2006) and Writing for the Internet: A Guide to Real Communication in Virtual Space (2010).

Previously, I was a technical writer/editor for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for ten years. My work included report writing, database management, Web development, training administration, computer systems support, instrumentation analysis, and site inspection for environmental and geotechnical projects. I directed both the Leadership Development Program and Employee Fitness Program and was awarded two Army Achievement Medals for Civilian Service for my work.

Contact Information

Dr. Craig Baehr
Associate Professor
Technical Communication and Rhetoric
Department of English
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas 79409-3091
Email: Craig Baehr  

Campus Office and Phone

English and Philosophy Complex
Room 363F
Office phone: (806) 742-2500, x228
Office hours: online by appointment

English 5371: Foundations of Technical Communication

This graduate-level provides an overview of the history, theory, and practices in the field of technical communication. It covers a broad range of topics in the field including rhetoric, research methods, usability, visual theory, online publication, workplace practices, technology, pedagogy, gender, culture, and ethics. It also specifically addresses how technical communication theories, trends, and practices impact both the academic and workplace spheres. Assignments will require you to apply and analyze specific theories and practices using the various genres used in technical communication study, including portfolio, presentation, literature review, critical short responses, and theoretical paper. And finally, the course provides an overview of professional organizations, publications, and conferences in the field.

English 3368: World Wide Web Publishing

This undergraduate-level course provides an overview of the practical and theoretical aspects of designing effective online documents and Web sites. Specifically, our work will focus on process and planning, content development, site structure, navigation, visual design, interface design, usability, and accessibility. The course will cover practical skills with various software tools and scripting languages, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The course will also cover contemporary theories such as digital literacy, authorship, credibility, and digital rhetoric to broaden our study of Web development as a discipline.

English 2311: Introduction to Techncial Writing

This undergraduate-level course provides an introduction to the genres and methods of writing reports and documents used in business, industry, and technology settings. The course covers strategies of audience analysis, researching information, organization, writing style, content and copy editing, and information design commonly used in developing business and technical documents. It addresses various document types and genres, including technical description, instructional materials, presentations, analytical reports, activity reports, online content writing, business correspondence, and proposal writing. The course supplements include actual workplace document samples from a variety of disciplines to help contextualize the analysis and discussion of writing methods and genres. Assignments will challenge you to compose documents related to your major field of study or interest.

English 4368: Advanced Web Design

This undergraduate-level course provides intermediate and advanced study of content design for database and content management Web sites, interactive design using single sourcing, and scripting technologies including JavaScript, DHTML, and AJAX. The course also covers contemporary theoretical issues in Web development including hypertext theory, credibility, digital literacy, and interaction design. The course also covers project and client issues related to independent consulting work performed by Web developers.

English 5366: Teaching Technical Communication

This graduate-level course provides an overview of the theory and practice of teaching the introductory technical and professional writing course. Specific topics for discussion include history, pedagogy, service learning, professional development, technology, usability and information design, distance learning and assessment methods. The course will cover practical techniques related to classroom management as well as different perspectives on integrating technology, workplace writing, and genre theory in instructional methods. The course will also cover methods of using online materials and methods of distance learning instruction. Your work for the course will involve developing a teaching portfolio, textbook review, assignment description, course syllabus and a presentation. Additionally, this course is the prerequisite for teaching the ENGL 2311, Introduction to Technical Writing course.

English 5373: Technical Manuals: Instructional Development & Design (Special Topics)

This graduate-level course provides an overview of the processes involved in developing instructional materials for a professional setting, including user and task analysis, learning methods, Web-based training development, training in asynchronous and synchronous environments, single-sourcing, and assessment methods. It covers theoretical aspects of instructional architectures, instructional design, user-centered design, and online pedagogy, as well as the practical aspects of using learning objects and instructional tools. And finally we’ll look at best practices, examples and methods for online instructional delivery, through a variety of communication software tools.

>> Course Web Site

English 5376: Online Publishing

This graduate-level course provides an overview of the practical and theoretical aspects of designing effective online documents and Web sites. Specifically, our work will focus on process and planning, content development, site structure, navigation, visual design, interface design, usability, and accessibility. The course covers practical skills with various software tools and scripting languages, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript and DHTML. Assignments primarily focus on developing Web sites using a variety of tools and development methods. And finally, the course addresses several core issues in hypertext theory such as digital literacy, authorship, credibility, and digital rhetoric.

ENGL 5369: Discourse and Technology (Digital Rhetoric)

This graduate-level course focuses on the intersections between rhetorical theory, literacy, textuality, technology, and how they affect our notions of discourse, persuasion and design in online publication. Course topics address online pedagogy, hypertext and hypermedia, ethics, authorship, credibility, and literacy within the contexts of discourse, textuality, and digital culture. And finally, the course covers contemporary perspectives of digital rhetoric, including transformation theory, interaction, and virtual reality, among others.

English 5387: Publications Management

This graduate-level course covers strategies and processes of knowledge management that support the document publication cycle in a professional setting. Specific work assignments involve content development for both print and online documents, including static and dynamic Web site content. It addresses key issues in publication project managment, including process maturity, content models and units, project plan development, single-sourcing strategies, and methods of tracking and assessment. Specific tools and technologies covered in this course include XHTML, XML, CSS, and working with content management systems.