Posts Tagged ‘stuff for students’
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What is rule one?
Thursday, November 3rd, 2011With apologies to Terry Pratchett, 
I am re-writing rule one. While it is always wise to follow his version … “Do not act incautiously when confronting little bald wrinkly smiling men”, – mine will have to be “remember: software is not intuitive”.Â
Before you start screaming, I know that there are many cases where software is not challenging to figure out and some people find learning software to be very easy. What I am referring to is the habit that adult learners have when trying to do a task in some piece of software. Generally I get some variation on “I know it’s easy, but I’m not finding it” when people come to me for help.
Why assume that it’s easy?
I teach software for a living and am far more likely than the average user to spend time digging around in software to find what I need. **warning, long and rambling story** This morning I was cursing a long blue streak at Apple for the (to me very counter-intuitive) way they set up default email preferences. I use Outlook 2011 for work and gmail for everything else.
With the new division of Axiom that I’m building I wanted to be be sure to have some kind of online task-tracking and contact-tracking system for my business partner and I to use. After some digging and playing with some trials I chose CapsuleCRM. When I click on a contact email in Capsule I want it to open Outlook. Capsule has a setting to let me open Gmail if I wish, but not Outlook. The default behavior of my computer is to open Mac Mail.
So – how do I get the computer to open Outlook when clicking an email address link? I never had to look for this setting before and was verklempt when I discovered that I had to go into Mac Mail, start a new account and then go to preferences to change the default email settings for the computer to be Outlook.
WHAT?!? Who thought putting the default email settings inside Mail was a good idea. GAHHHH! I have to create an account so that I can NOT use Mac Mail?
And Kirsten, your point is?
OK, So that was a long way to go for today’s advice – Do not assume that software is intuitive.
Is is very easy to make software rules that are easy to understand for the other people writing the software. It’s not easy to make rules that are easy to understand for someone who is not already versed in the rules and regs of the development team. When you are looking at a new piece of software (or an update to one that you already use), please remember that is is the job of the software to help you – not the other way around.
But everyone says it’s easy
Everyone? no, not everyone (I don’t) – BUT when you encounter those people (your kids, grandkids, easily frustrated coworker…) keep in mind that they fall into one of two catagories:
- They did find it hard to learn and have forgotten how frustrated they were
- They have previous experience that makes the software familiar, and therefore easier to learn
How many people do you know that find it totally rational to click the Windows “Start” button to get to Exit? (Don’t get me started on the Windows 7 “Orb” – Gack!). How many Mac users think it makes total sense for a picture of an apple to be a menu? Why is Ctrl (or Command on the mac) and Z the shortcut for “Undo” almost everywhere? – “Because”, that’s why.
It’s almost zen really – “It is what is”. Zen – Yes, Easy – No
So… what was rule one?
All together now… “Software is NOT intuitive“.
Thank you. Class dismissed.
Trouble finding Print and Save As in 2007?
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011I enjoy a mystery as much as the next person (presuming of course that the next person likes to dig for information only when they are not under stress, a time crunch, or both). Because learning software is my job, a certain amount of digging and testing is normal for me. However, for the vast majority of people, spending time digging around in software to find what you need is comparable to a long, slow root canal.
In the last few years, whenever I teach a “Migrating to 2007″ class, I meet people who are extremely frustrated with the new layout. I understand why the software is all new but I don’t have the same frustration because of one simple fact – I don’t have to do the same tasks for a demanding boss today (on alien software) that I did yesterday, at the same speed.
If you are moving from office 2003 to 2007 there are a few things you need to know that will make the transition much, much easier! The next few posts will cover the “survival skills” that I give all my migration students.
Let’s begin
“where the heck did they move Print and Save As?
- Click on the image
- Look in the upper left corner
- Do you see that cheezy, 80′s drop-shadow monstrosity of a button? Click it
- Voila, meet “The Office Button”, essentially the file menu in disguise
Some people find this with no trouble, but many people don’t think of using office the way they use a website. Why click on a logo?
I assume that the people who designed this thought the web-like aspects would make things easier to find, not harder. If not, then they apparently feel hiding critical features would be no biggie and are either nuts or really miserable with the jones to spread it around. Is this a website? No, it’s an office application! (sounds of forehead hitting desk )
Next Post… Office’s Scooby-Doo Mystery Tabs
Looking for more css help?
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010For my beginning CSS students I always share the link for the CSShark (mako4css.com).
It has a really clear intro to css section.
However…
In playing with my advanced Dreamweaver class today I rediscovered the wonderful extras that Max Design offers.
You can find them on listamatic.
If you want to take your css knowledge a bit further, check this out!
http://css.maxdesign.com.au/selectutorial/
Acrobat for Legal Professionals
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010There is a great website – http://blogs.adobe.com/acrolaw/ for critical Acrobat information. This covers more things than just legal specific topics and links to free e-seminars.
If you want to expand your Adobe Acrobat knowledge free seminars and blog articles are a great way to do it. There is a huge Acrobat community out there.
Adobe On-Demand Seminars
Monday, April 19th, 2010If you haven’t had a chance to check out some of the free seminars provided by Adobe – check out the on-demand content. There is an “Acrobat for Healthcare Professionals” that has a lot of detailed information and links to the presentation slide for you to download.
Painting with Hard Light
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010Here’s a new tutorial by Rick Wetzel.
It’s quick and fun – check it out!
http://wetzelandcompany.com/MonthlyTips/HardLight.php
Basic css – good post (not unlike nice house, good tea)
Thursday, February 18th, 2010Small print runs
Thursday, September 10th, 2009If you have not seem the amazing work done by moo.com, do yourself a favor and check it out.
The mini business cards are inexpensive and clever!
From the Blog
- WordPress, I both love and hate you
Saturday, April 28th, 2012 - A Learning and Development Professional’s Continuing Education
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 - Photoshop CS6 Sneek Peek #3
Monday, February 13th, 2012