Making how to guides for teachers

[Conn]

I wanted to create how to guides for the teachers at my school by recording the desktop and showing them the steps, what they need to click and what it does. I have a couple of ideas from the common problems they come to me with, but i would like more to put on our server for people to watch and learn how to do the basic things for themselves.

 

You guys got any ideas what else i should show them? its only a primary school so there isn't need for anything too complicated.

 

Thanks in advance for at least reading the thread!

[simpsonj]

Take a look at the blog @sonofsanta created EduGeek.net - sonofsanta - Blogs for some ideas!

[jamesfed]

IMO guides (of any kind) rarely do anything but collect (digital) dust when issued to most members of staff.

 

Better training (small groups and one to one) seems to yield more results.

 

However something like Expression Encoder 4 (built-in screen capture) a basic headset with a mic and a YouTube channel could go a way to helping you out.

[simpsonj]

^This as well. Many Bromcom how to guides were sat unwatched as I went through every issue they covered with different members of staff...

[witch]

How to sort out the volume/brightness/contrast/resolution on the pc

How to find a program that isn't represented by an icon on the desktop

How to choose a printer, if they have a choice, or how to change the settings on a printer

How to empty the recycle bin (they never do!)

How to backup data onto an external HD or stick or whatever

 

That's all I can think of at the moment- but you can also tell the rest of us how to get staff to actually read these guides. If you search edugeek, you will find quite a bit of evidence that staff just don't read things.

 

Good luck

[detjo]

"IMO guides (of any kind) rarely do anything but collect (digital) dust when issued to most members of staff."

 

Yep - we bought a collection of stuff (office 2010 etc - stuff that could actually be useful for teachers to learn) from Linda dot com so staff could go thru them at their leisure, made a V: drive so they could access videos from anywhere and went thru it all during an inset day about 2 years ago.

I doubt they have ever been watched. Whenever i mention the V drive .. "Oh, whats that?"

In short, teachers are far too busy for that. They would rather you show them - so you end up doing it anyway and they don't have to learn it! In my experience, anyway!

But good luck with it .. hope it works better for you.

[Snuffkins]

I suppose the other way too look at it would be that if you don't try in your environment you'll never change the culture. CPD for ICT is something lacking and video tutorials to backup the 121 and group delivered CPD can't hurt. Getting that CPD built in can be hard though .

 

I would certainly do what you're doing and just start with the common things you get asked for.

[Alkaline]

How to watch a how to.

[Sylv3r]

We've created quite a few and put them in our Knowledgebase on our Helpdesk. Staff when asking relatively simple questions are not told / shown how to complete the task but sent the link the the relevant Knowledgebase article for them to do it themselves.

 

We really started to put the knowledgebasee videos together due to the type of questions were were getting through out helpdesk.

[Conn]

Thanks for the feedback guys! I know teachers are a bit too busy sometimes. I had tried making tutorials just using screenshots as it is hard to get a few people to teach in person. Hence my thinking a video would require less effort on their end

[Norphy]

Personally speaking, I prefer reading a document with screenshots to watching a video. Reason being, it's usually quicker to read a document than it is to watch a video and is easier to refer to earlier points if you need to.

[SteveBentley]

I quite often use screencast-o-matic to knock up a rough and ready screencast to answer "how to I..." questions, with the full intention that it will only be watched once by the person concerned. It's often easier than writing instructions and you can tailor it to the specific situation. In that circumstance it doesn't have to be too polished, so if the phone rings or somebody barges in while you're recording it's not the end of the world.

[mthomas08]

Please include pop up pictures and simple words

[kili]

Demo Builder - Create Software Demo Presentation - Screen Recorder

[happymeal]

Is it a guide, or are you looking at a "cheat sheet" as well?

 

Our training here consists of a Powerpoint/video presentation showing them the What/Where/When/Why, followed by a built-in interval for me to show them in slow-time.

I then put the presentations on a shared drive for them to look at in their own time, as well as a "cheat sheet" for them to follow

[Mako]

We pay someone to do this, part time. Staff can book him or go to him during their free time and have one-to-one sessions, or group sessions if they book him during departmental time.

 

In my experience, and in addition to the responses above, it's mostly a waste of time. They won't be read, your e-mails and notes to staff telling them where the stuff is will be ignored and forgotten. Unless you've been asked to do it, I'd just save yourself the time and effort.

 

Since installing SpiceWorks, the usual problems have decreased, too. Forcing them to submit issues via the helpdesk and seeing a response to their repeatedly simple problems in writing seems to knock it into their heads better than writing how-to's.

 

Not that I'm bitter or anything.

[Sirbendy]

Here's a couple I did. Just don't ask..

 

Stapler Safety

 

Guide to saving power

[timbo343]

Here's a couple I did. Just don't ask..

 

Stapler Safety

 

Guide to saving power

 

Nothing beats been patronising but these could be used

[elsiegee40]

Here's a couple I did. Just don't ask..

 

Stapler Safety

 

Guide to saving power

 

You have shown us these before and they still make me smile

[36Degrees]

They've just brightened my afternoon considerably!

[Mako]

Rep to @Sirbendy , they're brilliant.

 

I neglected to post what we have printed and stuck on the office wall:

Tech Support flowchart

[cobra427col]

Use pictures and comic sans (spit) - teachers love pictures and comic sans (double spit)