Classes, Workshops, and Seminars

Index West's Educational Opportunities

I teach a variety of indexing-related courses through my own business.

Private Tutorials

If you'd like to study with me, but are unable to attend my live, classroom-based course (above), consider taking my self-paced tutorials. Students who successfully complete these tutorials earn PCI (Practical Competency in Indexing) Certification.

Step One to Indexing

Learn the basics of writing good indexes and build a solid foundation for your career in this classroom-based course. This class teaches everything you need to know about being a freelance indexer. Students who successfully complete this course earn PCI (Practical Competency in Indexing) Certification.

Next Step: Business Start-up

Are you ready to start your indexing business, but don't quite know how to market yourself effectively and don't feel ready to receive that first call from a potential client? This workshop gives you the opportunity to learn from a successful professional about her experiences and to hear about tactics that she and others swear by.

Next Step: Web Site Design

This workshop will help you design a web site for your indexing business through hands-on, live guidance instead of through reading a book. This class is geared towards freelance indexers so the information is all relevant to you. In this workshop, you'll learn how to create a web site for your indexing business. You will leave this workshop with a first draft of your site in hand.

Other Organizations' Opportunities

I also teach indexing courses through other organizations.

Basic Indexing through the Graduate School (USDA)

This distance learning course offered through the Graduate School has many unique features:

• It is the leading course for indexer training in North America.
• It was the first correspondence course for indexing in North America.
• It is the only indexing course designed by a team made up of both professional indexers and instructional design experts.

Upon completion, students receive a certificate of completion. Students who complete this course with a final grade of 88 higher are eligible for PCI (Practical Competency in Indexing) Certification from Index West. (Contact Kari for more information.) Potential students can find more information at the Graduate School's web site. Current students can find more information on my web pages for indexing students. .

Indexing and Abstracting (LI 842XO)

I've taught this course for the School of Library and Information Management at Emporia State University's site in Portland, OR.

Technical Indexing (TC N100)

In this course I covered the basics in much the same way as I do in Step One to Indexing with an emphasis on technical documentation. The University of Washington's Department of Technical Communication used to offers this course through UW Educational Outreach, but hasn't offered it since the late-1990s. Due to low enrollment for a couple of classes, it has not been offered recently. If you're interested in seeing this course offered again, please contact the University of Washington's Department of Technical Communication and let them know. Students who complete this course and receive high B's or higher are eligible for PCI (Practical Competency in Indexing) Certification. (Contact Kari for more information.)

Courses taught by other instructors

If you're interested in seeing what other indexing courses are available, here are a few great resources.

Sherry Smith

If you live in Eastern Washington and want to take a face-to-face, live course (which is the best way to learn indexing), I highly recommend classes Sherry Smith in Bend, Oregon. Like me, Sherry also offers self-paced tutorials that can be worked in a distance learning situation. Sherry is a remarkable indexer and a fantastic instructor. If you work with her, you will receive top-notch instruction and guidance.

Students who successfully complete their studies with Sherry Smith are eligible for PCI (Practical Competency in Indexing) Certification from Index West. (Contact Kari for more information.)

PNW courses

The PNW chapter of the American Society of Indexers (ASI) maintains a list of regional classes about indexing. NOTE: Some of these are taught by non-indexers. Some of these are taught by inexperienced instructors. I'm happy to refer you to classes taught by other experienced indexers and experienced instructors if my classes are out of your area or offered on dates when you're unavailable.

Contact Kari

Copyright ©, Kari Kells.