Welcome to TC310 Spring 2004 Instructor: Jennifer Turns Teaching Assistants: Raina Richart Aaron Stroud

Today’s Plan 1.Go over syllabus 2.Exercises to introduce class themes 3.Moving to assignment 1, Analysis

TC Syllabus Key Points –Learning objectives –Assignments and Grading –Class schedule and structure Read on your own –Required materials –Student responsibilities –Instructor responsibilities

Questions 1.What software tools are important for TC professionals? 2.What does it mean to know how to use software like a TC professional? 3.What strategies do you prefer to use when learning new software?

Questions 4.What is technical communication? 5.What is design? 6.What is usability?

Identification of a Need Problem Definition Information Gathering Generation of Ideas Modeling Feasibility of analysis Evaluation Decision Communication Implementation Problem Scoping Exploring Alternative Solutions Project Realization Design Process Activities Derived from analysis of 7 engineering texts

Design Process Timelines 00:00:00:0000:16:00:0000:32:00:0000:48:00:0001:04:00:0001:20:00:0001:36:00:0001:52:00:0002:08:00:0002:24:00:00 PD GATH GEN MOD FEAS EVAL DEC COMM Successful Graduating Student (Quality Score = 0.63) 00:00:00:0000:16:00:0000:32:00:0000:48:00:0001:04:00:0001:20:00:0001:36:00:0001:52:00:00 PD GATH GEN MOD FEAS EVAL DEC COMM Canonical Entering Student (Quality Score = 0.37) Atman, Cynthia J., Justin R. Chimka, Karen M. Bursic, and H. L. Nachtmann, “A Comparison of Freshman and Senior Engineering Design Processes,” Design Studies, vol. 20, no. 2, pp , March 1999.

Design Process Timelines Atman, Cynthia J., Justin R. Chimka, Karen M. Bursic, and H. L. Nachtmann, “A Comparison of Freshman and Senior Engineering Design Processes,” Design Studies, vol. 20, no. 2, pp , March 1999.

Dimensions of Usability Definition: –“The extent to which a product ca be used by specified users to achieve specified goals in a specified context of use with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction.” ISO From Nielsen –Satisfaction, Learnability, Memorability, Errors, Efficiency Also –Understandability, Scannability, Readability

Homework (for Wednesday) A continuation of these activities Two parts –Complete “getting to know you” survey Available through the course website –Submit your first assignment in E-portfolio A 300 word explanation of TC Due Wednesday at 8:00 am (so we can go over responses by class time).

Moving on to Assignment 1 Read assignment 1 “Analysis of the communication event” –What does this mean? –What did you learn in TC 231, TC333 and other TC classes?

Analysis of the communication event Some questions: Product: What exactly are you being asked to design? Users: Who are the users? What do we know (would we like to know) about the users? Tasks: What tasks will the users do with the product? Context: What is the context in which these tasks will be carried out? Under what circumstances? Usability: What usability considerations are relevant here? Your task: Think – pair – share…

Product Statement – Useful synthesis Example –The product will be a responsive, understandable, flexible Internet site that offers basic customer services, keeps customers well informed, and partners with the community to protect the environment. The web site will primarily support SPU residential service customers to manage their accounts, access service information, and access environmental information in a way that is easy, fast, efficient, and instills trust. In addition, the site will support tiered access for the following audiences: SPU commercial customers, engineers and contractors, community organizations, and the media.

Product Statement Example –The product will be a responsive, understandable, flexible Internet site that offers basic customer services, keeps customers well informed, and partners with the community to protect the environment. The web site will primarily support SPU residential service customers to manage their accounts, access service information, and access environmental information in a way that is easy, fast, efficient, and instills trust. In addition, the site will support tiered access for the following audiences: SPU commercial customers, engineers and contractors, community organizations, and the media. Product Type Product Characteristics Tasks supported Business Goals Usability criteria Users