Dr. Bill Williamson | Professor of Technical Communication | SVSU

RPW 335 Instructional Writing & Design

Project / Instruction Videos + Posters 1, 2 (IVP1, IVP2)

The Instruction Videos + Posters (IVP) project set results in the creation of 2 sets of 2 instructional docs (2 videos and 2 posters for each) that assist audience members in understanding and implementing smart tools (GAI) into their writing, research, and design work flows. The IVP projects are challenging because they require you to invest in research about emerging tools and then document best practices for implementing those same tools.

Project Objectives

Submission Checklist

These projects require submission of 2 versions of each instruction set: V1.0 & V2.0. All files are submitted to an Instruction Vids + Posters folder in your shared course space on Dropbox.com.

Each Version 1.0 submission includes the following documents:

Each Version 2.0 submission includes the document set from the V1.0 submission and the following additional documents:

Project Details

Document type: memo, flow chart (task analysis), poster, video
Document length: 250 words (memo), 1 page (ta flow chart), 1 panel (poster), 3 min (video)
Project value: 500 points (50 points for each prototype; 200 points for each final instruction set)
Evaluation rubric: _Eval_InstructionVid+Poster.pdf

The IVP projects require you to construct a total of 4 instruction sets, each of which includes a poster and instructional vid. Each doc in a set presents the same content, but obviously in a different medium. I encourage you to construct the poster prototypes first for each set, because doing so will provide you with assets you can use during the recording of the complementary videos. In general, the goal is to provide 1 beginner-level and 1 intermediate-level instruction set for each of the project submissions

You will work in teams to complete these project sets. However, because you will create 2 sets of instructional materials, each of which focuses on a different smart tool, you do have permission to recombine team rosters for the 2 teams. Each design team will have exclusive responsibility for a GAI tool. Thus, each team will determine who documents which application for each tool. Although you may be able to share assets, no 2 instruction sets will focus on the same process.

Each instruction set will include the following elements (each of which is described in detail in the sections that follow).

Build a Task Analysis Flow Chart for Each Instruction Set

Create a task analysis map for each process that anchors an instruction set. Use an app or package that allows you to design a flow chart (e.g., Draw.io, Figma). Identify all tasks that contribute meaningful steps to completing the process that you are documenting. Use formal flow chart elements to design your chart.

Each TA flow chart should include the following design and content elements.

Design a Poster for Each Instruction Set

Create a poster for each process that anchors an instruction set. Use Adobe InDesign to design your posters. Each instructional poster must incorporate all 6 of the elements of effective instructions (see "Designing Effective Instructions," Canvas Files).

Use the style sheet & template as your guides for formatting content the elements presented in each poster.

Design a Screening Doc for Each Instruction Set

Our instructional videos will be screencasts, which means that each will be recorded using a screening document. Our goal is that each video will be consistent in content development and formatting so that the full series conveys one design standard. Use the assets you developed from the poster design when you construct your screening doc.

Each screening doc should include the following design and content elements.

Use the style sheet as your guide for formatting content the elements presented in each screening doc.

Design a Video for Each Instruction Set

Record and edit your video using CapCut. Your video will feature your screening doc and your voice-over narration. Present your content in a clear, measured voice at a consistent, unhurried pace. Each video should be close to 3 minutes in total content (including the front-matter and back-matter).

We will host all videos through Screencast.com in mp4 video format. Export your prototype and final videos in that format. Upload each to your Screencast account space. The share link will appear in your poster (see the template document).

Design a Memo for Each Prototype Submission

A memo of transmittal introduces the accompanying document to its audience(s). Your memos should be addressed from you to me, and should introduce the accompanying project documents. Each memo should incorporate the following content elements.

Design a Memo for Each Final Submission

A memo of transmittal introduces the accompanying document to its audience(s). Your memos should be addressed from you to me, and should introduce the accompanying project. Each memo should incorporate the following content elements.

Project Strategies

Recommended tool(s): Adobe InDesign, Photoshop for design elements, and CapCut for video creation and editing.

This section offers guidance for how to interpret the project and how to proceed with your work on it. Consider the following strategies.

Think Like a Designer

Think about how to build a useful, effective instruction set. Draw on the strategic knowledge you have acquired and honed this semester for thinking about how people experience design to develop a quality learning experience.

Learn from Similar / Relevant Designs

Learn from other designs. Study similar content. Draw inspiration from others' successes. Avoid others' failures. Challenge your thinking through consideration of other designs.

Listen to Others

One of the greatest mistakes designers can make is to get trapped in their own vision for a project. As you talk about your project with peers and test participants, open yourself to advice, to questions, to input from others about how to craft, refine, and revise your content.

Hints and Tips for Success

This section is designed to help you anticipate and avoid problems as you work on this project. Therefore, as you work, consider the following hints and tips.

Practice Economy In Your Writing of Content

Remember that communication in professional and technical contexts values highly the ability to write and speak with economy, directness, and professionalism. Another way of saying this is to make every word count.

Emphasize Specific, Concrete, and Significant Details

Details matter in effective information design. Be as specific and concrete as you can throughout as you write and design your content.

Attend to Small Details in Your Own Work

Focus on the little and big details. Proofread your project content carefully. Hold your work to a high standard so it reflects the best work you can achieve.

Maintain Professional Standards in Your Design Work

Continue to examine games and game components in multiple formats and media for delivery during the project. Learn from those designs, and apply what you can from them into your own work. Pay particular attention to the standards those designs establish and maintain for layout, for editorial quality, for the learning experience. When you see examples of designs that could be improved, apply that awareness as you build and refine your content.

Submission Guidelines

Read and attend carefully to these submission guidelines. Failure to do so may result in delays in receiving feedback on the draft of your project, or in points lost on the final evaluation of your project.

Create a Project Folder

Create a project folder inside your shared class folder on Dropbox.com. Remember, I can only view files that you place inside the shared folder. Until you place files in that space, you have not in practice submitted them.

Name the folder Instruction Sets.

Post Your Version 1.0 Submission

Make sure the files listed below are available to me in the project folder by the V1.0 deadline. Model your filenames on the listed examples:

Note. Do not share the individual files with me. By placing them in your project folder, you have already shared them by default.

Post Your Version 2.0 Submission

Make sure the files required for the V1.0 submission are available to me as well as those listed below. Place all files in the project folder by the submission deadline. Model your filenames on the listed examples:

Note. Do not share the individual files with me. By placing them in your project folder, you have already shared them by default.

Evaluation Standards

This section describes the standards by which your Version 1.0 and 2.0 submissions will be evaluated.

Evaluating Your Version 1.0 Submission

There are 100 possible points for this project stage (50 points each). You will earn points according to the following standard.

Evaluating Your Final Submission

There are 400 possible points for the final submission (200 for each set). You will earn points according to the standard described on the policies page (30% content development, 30% design execution, and 20% professionalism & attention to detail, and 20% impact of revision; see Policies). The specific areas of emphasis for this project are drawn from the description and discussion of the project, and are detailed in the evaluation rubric (_Eval_InstructionVid+Poster.pdf).

Remember that I will only post the point values for projects on the Grades page in SVSU Canvas. I will post the details relevant to that evaluation in your class folder in a project-specific file.

A Note to Instructors, Colleagues, and Others

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