Lab 02: Creating a Technology Tutorial for Students

Description: Manuals for new technology can often be overwhelming to teachers and to students. The minute detail used to describe various aspects of an application or product can be excessive when you are looking only to cover the basics. Often it is helpful to create a simplified step-by-step tutorial with pictures, specifying the exact processes that you want your students to accomplish with a new piece of technology or application. By writing concise copy and displaying detailed illustrations, a teacher can save time when introducing a new technology.

In this lab you will create a tutorial demonstrating how to use a specific feature of the York College Student Email Web Client ycmail.york.cuny.edu. You will be assigned a specific portion of the York email client for your tutorial.

Reading: Integrating Technology for Meaningful Learning, chapter 4: pp. 118 - 169
Applications/Equipment Used: Windows OS, Microsoft Word, Web-Based Email Client.
Skills: Copying and Pasting Text & Pictures; Print Screen Command; Inserting and Editing Pictures in Microsoft Word; Writing Clear Instructions; Emailing Attachments

Lessons: Inserting and Editing Pictures in Microsoft Word

Links

Sample Technology Tutorials

York Student Email Tutorial
York Student Blackboard Basics
Technology Tutorials for Teachers
Online Technology Tutorials

Lab Procedure:

1. Complete the lesson for Inserting and Editing Pictures in MS Word.
2. Design your e-mailing tutorial by answering the following questions.

• Identify your audience - Tutorials are meant for non-technical individuals, and their knowledge-level of terminology may vary. Estimate the users' knowledge-level.
• List the major tasks of your tutorial - These tasks will be given to your group, representing the portion(s) of the York email client you will be working on.
• Break each major task into sub-tasks - Do this in an outline fashion.
• Chose which sub-tasks will need graphics - Check each sub-task that will have a graphic.

3. Create your tutorial using Microsoft Word, combining the steps and pictures you have chosen.

4. Save your word document, appropriately named lastname_lab02.doc. Send your word document as an email attachment to jenheuson@yahoo.com. The subject line of the email should look like AC 230 Last name Lab 02.

5. You will not receive credit for labs missing your name or the lab number. Late labs will never receive more than 50% of the total points possible regardless of reason. Labs more than one week late will receive a zero.