Seminar
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unit_8_seminar_pp.pptxInstructor: Vickidiane Muzika
CM241: Foundations of Technical Communications
I will turn on our audio in a few minutes. Take this opportunity to review your audio settings.
Pre-Seminar Stretch
Visit the Unit 7 Discussion Board and review your peers’ initial posts. Which document design elements did they use that you would like to adapt for your Final Project?
Instructor: Vickidiane Muzika
CM241: Foundations of Technical Communications
Pre-Seminar Stretch
Visit the Unit 7 Discussion Board and review your peers’ initial posts. Which document design elements did they use that you would like to adapt for your Final Project?
Instructor: Vickidiane Muzika
Unit 8: Usability
Agenda
Define usability
Discuss features of usable technical communications
Practice selecting appropriate users for usability testing
Review the requirements of the Final Project
What is usability?
Usability is “the degree to which something…is easy to use and a good fit for the people who use it” (Usability Professionals’ Association, n.d.)
Usable communications are:
Martinez, D., Peterson, T., Wells, C., Hannigan, C., & Stevenson, C. (2011). Kaplan technical writing: a resource for technical writers at all levels. New York: Kaplan Publishing.
| Effective | They allow for accuracy, especially when completing tasks |
| Efficient | They allow for relatively quick completion |
| Engaging | They are appealing, primarily through visual design |
| Error tolerant | They are reliable, with reduced user-error potential |
| Easy to learn | They are intuitive, allowing for easy assimilation of skills and/or knowledge |
Selecting usability testers
| Possible usability testers | Benefits | Drawbacks |
| Members of your target audience | ||
| Your classmates | ||
| Friends or family members who have been helping you brainstorm throughout the term | ||
| People with no knowledge of your topic | ||
| Experts on your topic |
Selecting usability testers
| Possible usability testers | Benefits | Drawbacks |
| Members of your target audience | They have the same knowledge as your users | If they have to complete this process later, the draft could lead to confusion or frustration at “double” work |
| Your classmates | ||
| Friends or family members who have been helping you brainstorm throughout the term | ||
| People with no knowledge of your topic | ||
| Experts on your topic |
Selecting usability testers
| Possible usability testers | Benefits | Drawbacks |
| Members of your target audience | They have the same knowledge as your users | If they have to complete this process later, the draft could lead to confusion or frustration at “double” work |
| Your classmates | They know the requirements of the assignment and are now practiced technical communicators | They may have too much background knowledge of your project |
| Friends or family members who have been helping you brainstorm throughout the term | ||
| People with no knowledge of your topic | ||
| Experts on your topic |
Selecting usability testers
| Possible usability testers | Benefits | Drawbacks |
| Members of your target audience | They have the same knowledge as your users | If they have to complete this process later, the draft could lead to confusion or frustration at “double” work |
| Your classmates | They know the requirements of the assignment and are now practiced technical communicators | They may have too much background knowledge of your project |
| Friends or family members who have been helping you brainstorm throughout the term | They can offer “tough love” criticism | They may have too much background knowledge of your project |
| People with no knowledge of your topic | ||
| Experts on your topic |
Selecting usability testers
| Possible usability testers | Benefits | Drawbacks |
| Members of your target audience | They have the same knowledge as your users | If they have to complete this process later, the draft could lead to confusion or frustration at “double” work |
| Your classmates | They know the requirements of the assignment and are now practiced technical communicators | They may have too much background knowledge of your project |
| Friends or family members who have been helping you brainstorm throughout the term | They can offer “tough love” criticism | They may have too much background knowledge of your project |
| People with no knowledge of your topic | They can be a fresh set of eyes | They lack the base knowledge of your audience |
| Experts on your topic |
Selecting usability testers
| Possible usability testers | Benefits | Drawbacks |
| Members of your target audience | They have the same knowledge as your users | If they have to complete this process later, the draft could lead to confusion or frustration at “double” work |
| Your classmates | They know the requirements of the assignment and are now practiced technical communicators | They may have too much background knowledge of your project |
| Friends or family members who have been helping you brainstorm throughout the term | They can offer “tough love” criticism | They may have too much background knowledge of your project |
| People with no knowledge of your topic | They can be a fresh set of eyes | They lack the base knowledge of your audience |
| Experts on your topic | They may identify areas you overlooked | They may not have time to respond |
Selecting usability testers
| Tutorial topic | Possible testers |
| Turning a walk-in closet into a baby nursery | |
| Creating and maintaining a sourdough culture | |
| Running from couch to 5K in 4 weeks | |
| Conducting a teaching session for medical students on rounds |
Selecting usability testers
| Tutorial topic | Possible testers |
| Turning a walk-in closet into a baby nursery | Pregnant women/expectant couples, people who have recently had children, interior decorators, landlords |
| Creating and maintaining a sourdough culture | |
| Running from couch to 5K in 4 weeks | |
| Conducting a teaching session for medical students on rounds |
Selecting usability testers
| Tutorial topic | Possible testers |
| Turning a walk-in closet into a baby nursery | Pregnant women/expectant couples, people who have recently had children, interior decorators, landlords |
| Creating and maintaining a sourdough culture | Experienced bakers, novice bakers, cooking instructors, chemists |
| Running from couch to 5K in 4 weeks | |
| Conducting a teaching session for medical students on rounds |
Selecting usability testers
| Tutorial topic | Possible testers |
| Turning a walk-in closet into a baby nursery | Pregnant women/expectant couples, people who have recently had children, interior decorators, landlords |
| Creating and maintaining a sourdough culture | Experienced bakers, novice bakers, cooking instructors, chemists |
| Running from couch to 5K in 4 weeks | Experienced runners, novice runners, running coaches, physical trainers, nutritionists, sports-medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons |
| Conducting a teaching session for medical students on rounds |
Selecting usability testers
| Tutorial topic | Possible testers |
| Turning a walk-in closet into a baby nursery | Pregnant women/expectant couples, people who have recently had children, interior decorators, landlords |
| Creating and maintaining a sourdough culture | Experienced bakers, novice bakers, cooking instructors, chemists |
| Running from couch to 5K in 4 weeks | Experienced runners, novice runners, running coaches, physical trainers, nutritionists, sports-medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons |
| Conducting a teaching session for medical students on rounds | New medical students, 3rd and 4th year medical students, residents, attendings, director of residency program, patients at teaching hospitals |
When can/should you conduct usability testing?
When can/should you conduct usability testing?
Before you write
Halfway through writing
Prior to release
Unit 9 Final Project
Create a tutorial describing how to complete a task or process
Identify a specific audience requiring in-depth instruction in the topic of the tutorial and address your tutorial to that audience
Follow this superstructure:
Title
Introduction: 1-2 paragraphs providing background and context
Necessary Tools and Materials
Process
Conclusion
References (if tutorial includes words, ideas, or graphics from outside sources)
Requirements
Unit 9 Final Project
Use a formal tone reflecting a professional perspective
Use consistent and thoughtful document design principles (fonts, colors, headings, white-space, etc.)
Incorporate at least two visuals to support the text of your tutorial (screenshots, photos, charts, diagrams, tables, etc.)
Either include or mark the point at which you would include the digital media component of your project
Requirements
Questions?
Stick around after seminar
Post your Questions to “Course Questions”
E-mail me at [email protected]
