Technical Communications - Instructions (Help)
Timeline
-
April 20, 2020Experience start
-
April 21, 2020Start-up meeting
-
April 28, 2020Project proposal
-
May 21, 2020Instructions (first submission)
-
June 2, 2020Usability report
-
June 4, 2020Final help instructions
-
June 11, 2020Experience end
Timeline
-
April 20, 2020Experience start
-
April 21, 2020Start-up meeting
Meeting between students and organization to establish scope of the project and to gain access to the application for task analysis. Any specifications and restrictions are communicated at this time.
-
April 28, 2020Project proposal
Students submit a project proposal outlining the goals and objectives of the project, specifies what will be completed, and identifies deliverables. Any misunderstandings about or changes to the project must be clarified at this time. Approval of the proposal establishes agreement about the project.
-
May 21, 2020Instructions (first submission)
A completed draft of instructions is submitted for review and feedback.
-
June 2, 2020Usability report
Students submit a report outlining results of a usability test. Report documents any revisions made to the instructions and includes any recommendations for improving app.
-
June 4, 2020Final help instructions
Students submit final instructions revised based on feedback and results of usability testing.
-
June 11, 2020Final Presentations
There will be a virtual final presentation.
-
June 11, 2020Experience end
Experience scope
Categories
Communications Product or service launchSkills
technical writing communicationStudents enrolled in this Instructions and Procedures class are developing their skills in the fundamentals of writing effective instructions (help) to enable others to learn new technologies or carry out needed actions.
Learners
Depending on the specific requirements of the project, on completion a client can expect:
Help instructions enabling users to perform specific tasks using the client's application.
A report documenting the usability of the instructions.
Project timeline
-
April 20, 2020Experience start
-
April 21, 2020Start-up meeting
-
April 28, 2020Project proposal
-
May 21, 2020Instructions (first submission)
-
June 2, 2020Usability report
-
June 4, 2020Final help instructions
-
June 11, 2020Experience end
Timeline
-
April 20, 2020Experience start
-
April 21, 2020Start-up meeting
Meeting between students and organization to establish scope of the project and to gain access to the application for task analysis. Any specifications and restrictions are communicated at this time.
-
April 28, 2020Project proposal
Students submit a project proposal outlining the goals and objectives of the project, specifies what will be completed, and identifies deliverables. Any misunderstandings about or changes to the project must be clarified at this time. Approval of the proposal establishes agreement about the project.
-
May 21, 2020Instructions (first submission)
A completed draft of instructions is submitted for review and feedback.
-
June 2, 2020Usability report
Students submit a report outlining results of a usability test. Report documents any revisions made to the instructions and includes any recommendations for improving app.
-
June 4, 2020Final help instructions
Students submit final instructions revised based on feedback and results of usability testing.
-
June 11, 2020Final Presentations
There will be a virtual final presentation.
-
June 11, 2020Experience end
Project Examples
Requirements
The course focuses on three main aspects of writing effective instructions: (1) conducting a task analysis to document user actions, (2) writing user centered instructions based on tasks users would perform, and (3) testing instructions using usability protocol.
Here are some short examples of projects and in-class activities we have completed in the past:
- Developing a user/persona description and understanding how it relates to creating effective procedures
- Conducting task analysis for classroom technology and online applications.
- Writing instructions for classroom technology and online applications.
- Usability testing of applications to identify areas for improvement.
- Writing recommendations reports for improving instructions (help) based on usability testing.
Additional company criteria
Companies must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this experience:
Additional company criteria
Companies must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this experience:
Timeline
-
April 20, 2020Experience start
-
April 21, 2020Start-up meeting
-
April 28, 2020Project proposal
-
May 21, 2020Instructions (first submission)
-
June 2, 2020Usability report
-
June 4, 2020Final help instructions
-
June 11, 2020Experience end
Timeline
-
April 20, 2020Experience start
-
April 21, 2020Start-up meeting
Meeting between students and organization to establish scope of the project and to gain access to the application for task analysis. Any specifications and restrictions are communicated at this time.
-
April 28, 2020Project proposal
Students submit a project proposal outlining the goals and objectives of the project, specifies what will be completed, and identifies deliverables. Any misunderstandings about or changes to the project must be clarified at this time. Approval of the proposal establishes agreement about the project.
-
May 21, 2020Instructions (first submission)
A completed draft of instructions is submitted for review and feedback.
-
June 2, 2020Usability report
Students submit a report outlining results of a usability test. Report documents any revisions made to the instructions and includes any recommendations for improving app.
-
June 4, 2020Final help instructions
Students submit final instructions revised based on feedback and results of usability testing.
-
June 11, 2020Final Presentations
There will be a virtual final presentation.
-
June 11, 2020Experience end