Group A
George
Henry
Anabelle
(Pippa)
Group B
Esperanza
Helen
Kira
Michelle
Group C
Kosuke
Migo
Liam
(Jake)
(Nick)
Station 1
Kyle
Safeeyah
Station 2
Birtu
(Kendra)
Station 3
Kathan
Ethan
Agustin
Langston
Anzhuo
Lucas
Last class focused on using and observing how people used documentation for the coffee tools: Black & Decker 12-cup programmable coffee maker, Bodum French Press, Niche Zero, Tally Pro Scale. Today, we will continue using and observing coffee tools, focusing on the Aeropress, v60, and Moka Pot.
Make observations about strengths and limitations of existing documentation (e.g., definitions, descriptions, instruction, plain language, risk communication, visuals, accessibility) based on analysis of text, visuals, and/or video, and grounded in premises about technical writing
multimodality is a property of communication in which several modes of representation combine to create a single artifact.
Multimodality is a concept and term that has emerged in technical communication scholarship and elsewhere
The terms multimodal and multimedia sometimes get used in similar ways
The terms multimodal and design sometimes get used in similar ways, especially in older technical communication scholarship
Wsing multiple modes of communicating to different senses DOES NOT guarantee more access to information
Cross-cultural resonance is Bennett’s concern
Clear communication requires cultural resonance
Cultural dissonance can emerge from differences in cultural norms
Technical communicators need to strategically design for diverse audiences
Aesthetics is a holistic perception
Aesthetics can contribute to stereotypes and dominant ideologies
To avoid supporting stereotypes technical communicators should be receptive to reader input and involve diverse users to participate in design processes
Bennett’s heuristic
Review and revise user groups. Combine groups that are similar. Possibly add groups that are not accounted for.
Review the tasks for your tool.
Share any limitations you noticed related to this documentation.
Develop 3-5 follow up questions for the groups, based on your observations about the limitations of the documentation.
Review Tally Pro Scale (p. 3-11), including instructions for:
WEIGHT MODE
BREWING IN BREW ASSIST MODE
Review 1Zpresso JX-Pro, including instructions for:
Coffee Grinding
Disassembly
Reassembly
Review Bonavita 1.0 L gooseneck variable electrical kettle, including instructions for:
Important safeguards (p. 2)
Additional safeguards (p. 3)
Operation (p. 6-8)
Review Aeropress Original, including instructions for tasks:
How to Use - If You Own a Grinder
Review v60, including instructions for tasks:
How to Brew (p. 2-6)
Review Bialetti Moka Induction, including the sections:
Warnings
Making Coffee
Write a brief persona for yourself, based on how you would likely use each of the tools, and what your goal would be for using that tool: 12-cup programmable Black and Decker coffee machine; Tally Pro Scale; Niche Zero Grinder; Hamilton Beach 1.8L kettle.
Cups of coffee are 4-5 oz in these instructions.
Decide who would like coffee (min. 2, max. 4).
Review Tally Pro Scale (p. 3-11), including instructions for:
WEIGHT MODE
BREWING IN BREW ASSIST MODE
Review 1Zpresso JX-Pro, including instructions for:
Coffee Grinding
Disassembly
Reassembly
Review Bonavita 1.0 L gooseneck variable electrical kettle (p. 1), including instructions for:
Important safeguards (p. 2)
Additional safeguards (p. 3)
Operation (p. 6-8)
Review Aeropress Original, including instructions for tasks:
How to Use - If You Own a Grinder
Review v60, including instructions for tasks:
How to Brew (p. 2-6)
Review Bialetti Moka Induction, including the sections:
Warnings
Making Coffee
Group A
George
Henry
Anabelle
(Pippa)
Group B
Esperanza
Helen
Kira
Michelle
Group C
Kosuke
Migo
Liam
(Jake)
(Nick)
Station 1
Kyle
Safeeyah
Station 2
Birtu
(Kendra)
Station 3
Kathan
Ethan
Agustin
Langston
Anzhuo
Lucas
Group A go to Station 1.
Group B go to Station 2.
Group C go to Station 3.
Group C go to Station 1.
Group A go to Station 2.
Group B go to Station 3.
Make notes about individual personas, and about how well each other person matches the user groups for your group.
Tally where people align with your user groups.
Observe how groups use instructions to complete tasks, including:
where users have to pause, reread, or refer back to instructions
any explicit questions or statements that users make about the task
parts of the instructions users find confusing
any explicit statement
whether users can complete the task successfully
Ask follow up questions of the users at your station.
Share your individual persona with the others at the station. Explain how you are likely to use each tool and what your goal is for using that tool.
Refer to instructions for the tool(s) at this station.
Boil water
Place Tally Pro Scale in weight mode.
Measure 14g of coffee
Grind coffee with 1Zpresso JX-Pro.
Place Tally Pro Scale in Brew Assist mode.
Set ratio to 1:15
Place ground coffee into Aeropress.
Brew Aeropress
Hit timer button on Tally Pro to time the brew in Brew assist mode.
Verbalize any questions, confusion, or friction that you encounter when completing the tasks.
Clean up by throwing away used grounds.
Share your individual persona with the others at the station. Explain how you are likely to use each tool and what your goal is for using that tool.
Refer to instructions for the tool(s) at this station.
Boil water
Place Tally Pro Scale in weight mode.
Measure 14g of coffee
Grind coffee with 1Zpresso JX-Pro.
Place Tally Pro Scale in Brew Assist mode.
Set ratio to 1:15
Place carafe and v60 with filter on the scale
Place ground coffee into v60.
Brew Aeropress
Hit timer button on Tally Pro to time the brew in Brew assist mode.
Verbalize any questions, confusion, or friction that you encounter when completing the tasks.
Clean up by throwing away used grounds.
Share your individual persona with the others at the station. Explain how you are likely to use each tool and what your goal is for using that tool.
Refer to instructions for the tool(s) at this station.
Turn on induction plate.
Fill base of Moka Pot with water
Measure coffee into Moka Pot.
Brew Moka Pot
Clean up by throwing away used grounds.
Take care! The Moka Pot will be very hot. There are gloves, an over mitt, and towels to help you safely dispose of the used coffee.
Observers, reflect on what you learned about how users interacted with your tools and instructions for those tools. Explain if you need to change or update your user groups, based on what you noticed from today. Explain how you can apply this lesson to redesigning the documentation for your tool.
Users, reflect on the strengths and limitations of the documentation you encountered. Explain how you can apply this lesson to redesigning the documentation for your tool.