NEW TECHNIQUES. Beyond conventional paper and online documents. By William Horton. 19 February 2004

Transcription

1 NEW TECHNIQUES Beyond conventional paper and online documents 19 February 2004 By William Horton

2 LEGAL STUFF Copyright notice This document is copyright by William Horton Consulting, Inc. You may NOT scan and print dozens of copies, pass them around to your coworkers and buddies, post this document on your server, or make lots of electronic copies of it unless you have explicitly purchased rights to do so. What s to stop me? you ask. Your conscience? Ethics? The lack of sport in stealing from a two-person company? Knowledge that it only takes one disgruntled employee or angry coworker to turn you in? Your reasons are your business. Just don t do it, OK? Limited liability notice For lawyers: Limited Liability With regard to the information and advice provided by William Horton Consulting in this document and other forms, William Horton Consulting shall not be liable to the reader, the reader s employer, or to anyone claiming any right by virtue of relationship to the reader, for any acts or omissions in the performance of services by William Horton Consulting or its agents or employees, except when such acts or omissions are due to their willful misconduct or culpable negligence. The reader agrees to hold William Horton Consulting free and harmless from any obligations, costs, claims, judgments, attorneys fees and attachments arising from the services rendered pursuant to this agreement, except when the same arises due to the willful misconduct or culpable negligence of William Horton Consulting as found by a court of competent judgment. For the rest of us: These materials and the advice we offer are general in nature. And, though we believe they provide good ideas, we don t guarantee that they are perfect or that they fit your situation exactly. There is no substitute for common sense and healthy skepticism. Only you can decide where, when, and how to apply the ideas we offer. Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 2

3 New techniques Beyond conventional paper and online documents William Horton Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. Today, we must deliver knowledge and skills When needed Where needed On any subject In just the right amount In the most effective format For not much money Books dumped online (TV pictures of paper pages) Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 3

4 Is the glass half empty or half full? [Toffler re illiterates of future] The illiterates of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. Alvin Toffler Alternatives to try Unconventional techniques to supplement or replace your current approaches Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 4

5 Animated presentations Replace tedious reading with intriguing watching and listening Presentation sequence Animated explanation horton.com/places/ganttcriticalpath.htm Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 5

6 To use: Animated presentations When to use? To present conceptual information to large number of people. What technology? Easy: PowerPoint and/or a third-party conversion tool. Advanced: Flash, audio capture, and HTML. What skills? Visual and multimedia design. Audio capture and editing. Tool operation. Simulations Learn by doing in a safe, interesting environment Software simulations Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 6

7 Soft-skill simulations PPT version horton.com/places/crimescene.htm Environmental simulation horton.com/places/treefarm.htm Financial simulation Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 7

8 To use: Simulations When to use? For repeated practice of a complex task in a safe environment. What technology? Easy: PowerPoint Advanced: HTML and JavaScript. Very advanced: Flash and the built-in scripting language. What skills? Visual design. HTML coding. JavaScript programming. Flash development. Games Gain and test skills in a challenging and fun way Word games When to use: To teach and test vocabulary. Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 8

9 Game-show games When to use: To test or motivate learning of specific knowledge. horton.com/places/gameshow.htm Puzzles When to use: To help recall images, visualize relationships, or notice discriminating details. Jigsaw puzzle advanced horton.com/places/networkpuzzle.htm Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 9

10 Adventure game When to use: To assess or teach decision-making skills. Template pack available at: horton.com/places/interview.zip To use: Games When to use? To encourage practice. To motivate research and learning. What technology? Easy: PowerPoint Advanced: HTML and JavaScript. Very advanced: Flash. What skills? Visual design. HTML coding. JavaScript programming. Ability to use scripting languages in tools like Flash. Coached practice Online guidance in practicing or performing difficult tasks Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 10

11 Coached practice sessions Guided tours Hands-on activities Use gatekeeper tasks to lead learners through the activity. horton.com/places/handsonactivity.htm Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 11

12 To use: Coached practice When to use? To lead people through a complex procedure. To prepare them to navigate on their own. What technology? HTML and JavaScript. Screencapture utility. MS Agent character. What skills? HTML coding. JavaScript programming. Databases Publish interactive databases that customize results to the user Virtual tours Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 12

13 Online museums horton.com/placesminerals.htm Database with game To use: Databases When to use? To provide content customized for the audience ( mass customization ) What technology? HTML and JavaScript or VBScript. Database and database interface. What skills? HTML coding. JavaScript or VBScript programming. Database design. Connecting databases to Web sites. Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 13

14 Sharing Enable people to share knowledge and wisdom Share stories horton.com/places/stories.htm Listen and reflect Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 14

15 Sharing best practices Discussions with other users Telementors and e-coaches Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 15

16 E-community To use: Coached practice When to use? To share knowledge within a company, community, or profession. To capture knowledge. What technology? HTML and JavaScript or VBScript. Database and database interface. Discussion forum. What skills? HTML coding. JavaScript and VBScript programming. Database design. Laboratories Let people gain knowledge and skills by exploration Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 16

17 Virtual laboratories horton.com/places/virtuallab.htm Coding laboratory horton.com/places/htmllab.htm Embedded lab within a topic Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 17

18 Role-playing activities horton.com/places/roleplaying.htm To use: Laboratories When to use? For learning by doing. To let people test their assumptions. What technology? HTML and JavaScript. Discussion forum. What skills? HTML coding. JavaScript programming. Scavenger hunts Teach people to find information on their own Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 18

19 Scavenger hunts for knowledge horton.com/places/scaventerhunt.htm ADO Scavenger hunt in a Help file Guided research Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 19

20 To use: Scavenger hunts When to use? To train people to use the documentation. To leverage existing documents. To avoid info rot. What technology? HTML and JavaScript. Discussion forum. What skills? HTML coding. JavaScript programming. Job aids Helping people decide and act Calculators horton.com/places/photocalculator.htm Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 20

21 E-consultants (decision aids) Interviews the user Dispenses reasoned, expert advice Links to human advisors too horton.com/places/consultant.htm To use: Job aids When to use? When it is easier to just do it than to read about it or study it. What technology? HTML and JavaScript. What skills? HTML coding. JavaScript programming. Libraries Making existing knowledge easy accessible Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 21

22 Online library [Results] Search services Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 22

23 Book search in Help Collection of active examples horton.com/places/htmlexamples.htm To use: Libraries When to use? To make a variety of subjector companyspecific information accessible. What technology? HTML and JavaScript or VBScript. Database and database interface. What skills? HTML coding. JavaScript and VBScript programming. Database design. Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 23

24 Summary Quick recap The 20 th Century is over How expectations and possibilities have changed 20 th Century view 21 st Century view One size fits all Personalization Passive, static media Dynamic, interactive media User adapts to the system System adapts to the user Reading information Building knowledge Lonely user Collaboration and community [Suggestions] New Techniques Link to Web, Internet, and databases Automate locating needed resources. Simplify access to human assistance. Use Help or Website as single source. Doing the thing right is no good if you are doing the wrong thing. Copyright William Horton Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 24