For this exercise, your collaborative group will evaluate the instructions given in a tutorial for Windows XP, Word, or HTML Goodies. Use a search engine to find tutorials (or go to htmlgoodies.com and choose a tutorial) and read through it, evaluating its features. You are interested in the content, organization, and style of the tutorial, as well as the audience for it.
The group should be ready to report its
findings during
the subsequent class, by composing Powerpoint slides and using screen
shots from the tutorial to
support the
comments from the group members. Each group member should
participate in preparing as well as presenting the report.
1. Give the title and the URL for the site.
2. Explain who the audience is for the tutorial; for instance, there
are tutorials written for audiences like elementary or secondary
students as well
as college students or senior citizens. What makes the tutorial
content appropriate
or
inappropriate for that audience? Consider the level of knowledge
that audience should have to be able to understand the tutorial:
beginner, intermediate, advanced.
3. What is the tutorial's format? Does it use screen
captures? Are the steps numbered or in paragraph form? How
well is it organized?
4. What is the tone: formal, informal, colloquial/conversational,
serious, humorous? Does the tutorial hold your interest? Why or
why not?
5. Are the directions easy or difficult to follow? Are all the
steps present? If not, what is missing?
6. Do at least one of the lessons from the tutorial and discuss how
well/badly it
worked.
7. From what you learned from evaluating this tutorial, what will you
need to do when composing your process manual? What things will
you be sure not to do?
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