Kerry Skemp > Writing > Technical

Since first logging on to the internet at age 13 or so, Kerry has been fascinated by technology. She first created AOL Hometown pages using HTML tags like blink and center, and now daily adds strength and emphasis to her posts on Bostonist. Kerry has assisted in creating procedural documentation for a variety of situations. Most recently, she helped manage a database transition at Emerson College, creating documents to help staff use the new system.


Content Templates

While creating SEO marketing content for Vertive, Inc., Kerry also extensively documented the different types of pages the company created, and what information should go on each. Unfortunately, the information is proprietary and cannot be shared.

Database Documentation

Emerson College's admission office recently transitioned to a new database system called Banner. Kerry created and edited documentation to help staff and students use the new system successfully. Previously, Kerry documented the use of the Navicat CMS for managing content for Vertive sites. A sample of Kerry's Banner documentation is below.

Entering Transcripts in Banner

All transcripts must be entered in the SOAPCOL form in Banner. They cannot be entered directly into the SAAADMS form.

NOTE: Always add contact type S11 in the SRAQUIK Contacts form when entering a submitted credential such as a transcript. This is the only way a label for the credential file will generate. If S11 is already present, you do not need to enter it again.

Finding the Prior College
  1. Type SOAPCOL into the ÒGo toÓ text box on the Banner general menu to go to the SOAPCOL form.
  2. Next block to the Prior College form.
  3. NOTE: If prior college information already exists in the form, locate the correct college by using the scroll bar at the right side of the Prior College form, then skip to Entering the Date Received.

  4. Click in the Prior College text box. Then, click the downward-pointing triangle next to the text block to open a query form for the prior college.
  5. Search for the college by name, using wild cards (percentage signs) around the most prominent word or phrase in the collegeÕs name. For example, search for %Ohio State% when dealing with The Ohio State University, or use %Tufts% for Tufts University.
  6. Press F8 to execute the query and find the school.
  7. Click in the leftmost box on the same line as the correct school. If there are multiple results, ensure that the school name and location match the information on the transcript.
  8. Select the red page icon, third from the left in the menu block, or chose Record > Select from the text menu to select the college.
  9. Save by pressing the F10 key or clicking the purple disk icon at the very left of the icon menu.

NOTE: If the school is not found after several searches for different phrases, go back to the SOAPCOL form by clicking the black X. Enter 0001 (Unknown College) for the prior college and alert your supervisor of the collegeÕs name so it can be added to Banner. Many international schools are not in Banner yet.

Entering the Date Received
  1. Make sure the correct school is selected in the Prior College box.
  2. Enter the Transcript Received Date in the appropriate box in the Prior College form. The date should be entered in DAY-MONTH-YEAR format, using numerals for all data except the month. For example, May 1, 2009, would be 01-MAY-2009. The Transcript Received Date is the date stamped on the transcript.
  3. If the transcript is official (which all transcripts should be, unless they are otherwise marked), check the Official Transcript checkbox to the right of the Transcript Received Date box.
  4. Save.
Entering Degree Details
  1. Next block to Degree Details.
  2. Click the Degree dropdown and choose the degree received as indicated on the transcript. The most common degrees are Bachelor of Arts, BA, and Bachelor of Science, BS. Alert your supervisor if the degree on the transcript is not available in Banner. You may enter the Degree for a degree program that is still in progress.
  3. If a degree has been received, locate the date of degree conferral on the transcript. If there is no date of degree conferral, do not enter a degree date. If there is a date of degree conferral on the transcript, enter that date in the Degree Date: field.

DO NOT enter degree received if the applicant or recruit is still taking classes.

Podcasting Support

While supervising iTunes Store customer service agents at Apple, Kerry realized that it was not clear to the agents how the podcasting system worked and to what extent they were expected to support it. She created documentation designed to help customer service agents decide when they could handle a podcast submission problem and when they needed to escalate it to a supervisor. Excerpt:

Scope of Support: Issues related to managing already-downloaded podcasts, subscribing to podcasts that are not on the iTunes Store, or transferring podcasts to iPods fall under the domain of technical support. iTunes Store support agents may provide information from iTunes Help or Apple kbase articles to podcasters if applicable, but the podcaster should be advised to contact technical support for further assistance.

Issues involving podcasts that are already on the iTunes Store or problems with the submission of new podcasts to the iTunes Store should be handled by iTunes support. At times, some complex issues will need to be escalated to the Podcast team for further assistance. Be sure to read through all documentation and thoroughly assess the podcaster's issue, consulting the IRC team for support if necessary, before you consider escalating to the Podcast team.

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