For this reading we learned more about the different types of methods that we could use in our document. I think that the best one that i could use is the document markup. I originally thought that the survey might be a good idea for my project, but after reading through the different test i think that the document is a better selection. For the instruction document i am making a step by step direction of how to re grip a golf club. The instructions are not going to go into too much detail because it should be done by someone that is in the profession that knows for the most part what to do. I think that this is a good way to show the different steps (only 5 key steps) of re gripping a golf club. As we read in the chapter reading as well as the instructors blog, there are many different documents that we can use, but majority of them are not appropriate to this project.
The one question that really caught my attention was is it safe? After reading this the first time I just read over it like nothing, but I then realized that some of the different tools that are used it is not that safe. We are using a box cutter with a special blade to cut away the grip which is not that safe but a step that has to be done.
As for the TCT, I think that they do a good job of telling us more about some of the different use ability testing. Some of the different tests that one could use to do an use ability test were clearly stated and documented well. However, as stated earlier some of these could not be used because they go to in depth.
Is it safe?
I did the same thing when I first came across the question "Is it safe?". I just kind of skimmed over it because it seems simple enough. After a little while though, it hit me that I needed to take a better look at the safety of my instructions. I think this is just another one of the flaws of writing instructions as an expert on the topic. When you are used to using those tools, they don't seem unsafe to you. But when you start thinking about a novice who has possibly never used such a tool before, it becomes a big deal. I know that my expert audience will already have experience using all of the tools, but then the liability factor comes into play. I don't want to include to many cautions for the experts because they will think that I am calling them idiots, but on the other hand I don't want to be sued because someone using my instructions cut a wire and got electrocuted. Because of this I think it will actually be easier for me to write my novice instructions where I don't have to worry about them feeling like they are being treated like an idiot.
Expert = Novice here?
I like how you have set up your instructions project from the point of view that the type of people who are going to be re-gripping golf clubs are people who are avid golfers and not the ordinary Joe Schmo’s at the club house bar. When you make your instructions set you will probably not have a very big difference between your novice and expert instructions. From my point of view, the only people who will ever really re-grip golf clubs would be people who have either played the sport for several years and know what they are doing or are in a situation like yours. Re-gripping your golf clubs is most likely not something that a person would do after only golfing for 6 months, considering grips usually last much longer than that.
Document Markup: Always the Best?
It appears that the majority of the students in this class are, in some way, utilizing the document markup test. I agree that this method can be very effective, however, it does not always prove to be the best. For instance, I am presenting my instructions as a website and, therefore, am limited in the methods in which I collect feedback since readers cannot directly annotate the page. I feel your situation would also not benefit much from using the document markup since you specify in your response that “[regripping a golf club] should be done by someone that is in the profession.” With this, I assume you mean only golf shop pro’s, and the like, will reference your instructions. If this is the case, I don’t know how effective it would be to use document markup for the novice users since it sounds as though they are only reading for understanding, and not application. Perhaps I misunderstood your intention.
Document markup within this class
I agree with you that document markup is one of the most effective ways to give feedback on usability, but you make a great point that many people in the class should hear. With a lot of people using document markup, I asked myself if that is the best method for this class environment. If you had a group of people you could bring in to evaluate your document, this method would be great. Why not just ask them about what they think are the most effective and non-effective portions of your document in a survey format. I also used some ideas from the summary portion to ask an open ended question about what the reader would improve about my document.
Mike Sheridan
Is it safe?
Is it safe is a question that can often be overlooked when describing how to do a task. Something that you might take for granted might be totally foreign to someone else. How to describe a way for someone to use a tool in a way that they won’t hurt themselves or anyone around them could be a project in itself. The words that you chose should be very clear. All warnings and precautionary measures should be highlighted. I think that you will find it pretty simple to describe a safe way for anyone to use your instructions if you are careful with what you say.