FAQ
Submitted by rpweber on Fri, 05/30/2008 - 13:55.
This is the FAQ for the class, designed to answer questions you have about course content or the site. If you have a question, please post it in the comments below, and I will answer it as soon as possible.
Are there specific times when we will meet together as a class by logging on at the same time? No. All of your work in 421Y is asynchronous. You can complete projects and readings at your own pace as long as you complete them by the deadline. Once you start meeting in groups, your group may decide to work through chat programs or Google docs at a pre-established time.
Can I check my grade on the site? Unfortunately, no. Drupal does not have a secure place to post student grades. I will email students grades on projects and reports on their posting at routine intervals.
When you say we can work at our own pace, does that mean that the deadlines are flexible? No. Everything is due by the date indicated on the course calendar, and late work is penalized. However, you are welcome to work ahead, so long as you take peer and instructor feedback into account.
Why do you expect our work to be good enough to function in a professional setting? This is a high standard. It is a high standard. However, many of you will face this standard very, very soon. As soon as you graduate, your employers will demand that your work is up to industry standards, and they won't have much patience for writing that isn't up to snuff. My grading is designed to get you ready for these expectations so that you aren't surprised when you start a job.
How long should our reading responses and comments be? Reading responses should be 300 words. Comments and replies should be around 100 words.
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Calendar times
When it says midnight (or any other time) as a due date time on the calendar, does that mean EST?
EST Time
Yes, I do mean EST Time. I'll go by whatever time the drupal site provides for the post, and Drupal is set at EST.
Customized Page Layouts
Can you expound upon the requirement that we use customized page layouts? What kind of size are you looking for, and why does it matter if it's 8 1/2 x 11"? I guess the requirement just confuses me because the content and clarity of the instructions in the project and the accompanying figures and such are the main focus.
Paper size
I understand why this requirement is confusing, so let me elaborate further. When I have assigned this project in the past, most students used standard paper size whether or not that size was appropriate for their instructions. However, when you examine the user manuals for technological and mechanical objects, they run in all sizes because of the context of use. As I discuss in the blog, 8x11 1/2 paper is not an ideal paper size for instructions about changing oil or playing your Nintendo Wii.
Therefore, I am requiring students to consider the design carefully, which is a big component of the project. If you absolutely need 8x11, that's fine, but I don't want students simply accepting the defaults instead of making contextually driven design decisions.
Redundant Projects
Also, it seems that those who do projects on the Google Docs will have a leg up on Project 3, so I think many people will do projects on them. Are you going to be okay with many people doing the same projects?
Google Docs
I'm completely fine with a lot of people doing Google Docs projects. That will mean less people will have to learn how to use Google docs come project time, which is a big advantage in a short course. Plus, it will provide several student created instructions for the website.
Editing Comments Posted for 'Instructor Blog #2: Email'
I wrote a responsed a few days back for 'Instructor Blog #2: Email' and have been pondering it all week.
I now have more to add, but I cannot seem to edit my post. Is there a reason?
~Joel
Editing comments
At the bottom right hand corner of your comments, there are options to delete or edit them. Clicking edit will allow you to alter the content.
The 'edit' button was not
The 'edit' button was not present, even when I was logged in.
~Joel
Edit
That's strange. I even made a test user account, and that one had the edit button as well. How about adding the new material by replying to your own comment.
3 questions
Is the project individual?
The project is completely individual. All of your grades are based on your individual work.
Do we choose any computer program to right instructions about? How far in depth does the "manual" have to be; can it be simple instructions for using the program or performing a specific task?
You can choose any computer program or other technical object to write about (appliances, vehicles, equipment, etc). The instructions don't have to be a full manual, but should allow the user to complete key tasks with the program or object, as well as troubleshoot and avoid hazards.
Obviously the final submission is in pdf form, but what program should be used to create our instructions? Also you request us to avoid the 8x11 paper format, so would you like these instructions in a pamphlet format or something similar? Can it be more than one page long?
You can use several programs. Adobe InDesign is a good choice, but a little harder to use. Many students have used Word, and if you know the sophisticated design functions, this works well. Any other software that produces well-designed instructions that can be uploaded on the site would also work. I expect that most instructions will go over a page, though some compact or concise instructions may fit on one page.
Instructions Project Length
How long have these projects typically been in the past? I understand the length will be determined by the amount of description required for adequate instructions. I am just looking to get an idea of the lengths of the past projects.
Length
Good question. I'd say that past projects have been within 5-10 pages of whatever page size the writer chose.
Project 1 Proposal Format
For the Project 1 proposal, what format do you want us to use for posting the proposal? I can find several very involved formats for project proposals, but I'm guessing this is not supposed to be quite so involved (those that I found all called for about 5 pages of information). Do you just want it in the form of a 300 word blog post or as a document posted to the Project 1 category tag? If not, what, more specifically, would you like?
Format
You don't have to follow a specific format, though all the questions should be answered clearly. I'm looking for a comprehensive but concise description of your project so that we both know what you want to do. Doing this as a 300 word blog post is fine, and as the calendar mentions, it should be tagged as Project 1.
Paper Size
For the instructions project, whichever size paper we decide to use.. is it okay to use columns so that it will be more like a pamphlet? Thanks!
Also, for proposal 1 do we need to include pictures or just talk about what pictures we will be using?
Paper Size
A pamphlet would be a great choice if it fits the context of use for your technical object well. You can describe what types of images you will need, and you don't have to include them for the proposal.
Copyright Images in the Instructions
Should we be concerned with using copyrighted images for our instructions?
Are we pretending we are the company and that we own all our own images and licenses? Are we the company and do we have engineers/tech support on the phone to call?
Or are we a third party instruction maker?
~Joel
Copyright
This is a great question. The fair use laws regarding copyrighted material for educational purposes are a bit fuzzy. In the end, I will allow you to include copyrighted images because the instructions will be posted only within our class site (attachments are not visible to those without accounts.) Please site any locations for images. You can either assume you are a third party or an in-house writer, though I was assuming you worked for the company. In that regard, you would have production people and engineers at your disposal.
Project 1: Have to be a pdf?
I noticed that when project 1 has to be turned in, you said it needs to be in a pdf format. I have used an odd shape sized paper, and when I convert to pdf from a word document, it messes up my formatting. Is there a way we can attach as a word document? Thanks.
Andrew Garland
PDF
If the pdf format messes up your project, you can leave it as a .doc. I'd rather have good formatting than a specific file type. Remember, however, that Drupal does not accept .docx attachments.
Project 2
Are we going to be actually submitting these resumes, cover letters, etc.?
Submission
Submitting the resumes and cover letters are not required as part of the assignment. You are welcome to submit these on your own, but I am not requiring it.
Week Three, Friday, Second Bullet
I keep attempting to read the article from the second link on Week Three from Friday (today).
It keeps redirecting me to the WSJ basic careers page.
Is there another link?
~Joel
New Link
Thanks for the heads up. They've changed the link since I last used the article. I updated the link to another version on the calendar and here.
White Paper Link (Tuesday the 8th)
Ryan,
I seem to be having problems with the White Paper Link for Tuesday July 8th. It gives me a page not available error.
Is this a more widespread problem, or is it just me?
~Joel
Linky for White Paper problem
I too seem to be having a trouble opening the link to read about the White Paper in Week 5 of the calender. I guess I will try back in a little while.
I get an error say "hhttps:// is not associated with any program firefox knows how to open" Maybe there is just a mistype in the link.
Andrew Garland
Everyone, Try the link
Everyone,
Try the link http://www.digitalparlor.org/su08/weber1/whitepapers for the Week Five Tuesday reading.
~Joel
White Paper Link
Sorry about the issue with the project link. It is now corrected on the calendar. Thanks for helping with this, Joel. As he pointed out, the project link is also accessible through the projects tab at the top of the website. Sorry again for the issue.
Friday, the 11th, project 2 revision turn in?
In week 5, Friday, it says Project 2 revisions due. I clicked on the link, and it took me to Project 1. Therefore I am confused, and am thinking that it is suppose to say Project 1 revisions due.
Andrew Garland
Project 1 Revisions
You're right - that was my mistake. Project 1: Instruction Project revisions are due by Friday. Sorry about the confusion.
Project Log
On the calendar, for Friday (7/11), we are supposed to start a project log. Will this be done on our team's assigned wiki, or do we start a blog?
Project Log
Post the log to your own blog and tag it in the project log category.
Group's Research Wiki
I was wondering what you mean by the group's research wiki. By tomorrow night, we are all supposed to find three relevant sources for Project 3, and we are supposed to post comments about these sources on our group's research wiki. Is that something I will find using Google Docs?
Research
The research consists of articles you find on Google scholar, lexis-nexus, or other research tools (see the research blogs) that are about Google Docs, the other software you are describing (if your group is comparing to), or the organization you are writing about. These research blogs can be about any articles your group could use to help you write your white paper.
Research
Thank you for your response. I think I might have been a little unclear in my question, though. I understand what I am supposed to be writing (about sources or articles that will be useful when writing the white paper). What I do not understand is where I should be posting what I write ("Group's Research Wiki"). Should it be in a new blog on this site?
Research Blogs
I see. Post your research blogs as new blog entries. Put them in your group category.
Reading Responses
For Friday July 18th, the calendar says we have to post comments to other people's reading responses. Do we only post to our specified group members, or to 5 other people in the course (as we had done before)?
Reading Responses
From here on out, comment on your other group members' reading responses. That will help forge relationships in the groups.
Project 2 Revisions
For the Project 2 revisions, should the files be submitted as .pdf or .doc?
PDF or DOC
I will accept either file format. Thanks.
Final Grades
Any idea when final grades will be submitted?
Grades
I will submit final grades tomorrow. They are due August 4th, so I imagine they will be posted shortly after that.