As part of the Printer/Copier roll-out project at DePauw, I consulted with the implementation team to design instructional materials for the new printer/copiers during the fall of 2010. Part of this plan was to create a knowledge base for the documentation we were generating. I created a documentation design plan and below is a screen shot of one of the pages I wrote. I did not write every page, but I did create the design plan including the navigation structure and format of all the pages. This is an example of my technical writing and visual design layout skills for the documentation for this project. I wrote all of the Mac printing documentation, though the pages may have been updated if you were to visit the site today. Also view the documentation design plan I submitted to my clients for this project. This is a good example of a master plan for all the technical writers to follow. Some adjustments were made later in the process, but for the most part this was followed throughout the project.
Printer/Copier Roll-out at DePauw
At DePauw, I designed training manuals and tutorials to help faculty and staff learn how to operate the new Canon multifunctional devices. The new devices operated with a proximity card system, meaning that you wave your card in front of a sensor and then log in and choose your print job to print it. This was a major change to how most people on campus print and was a challenge not just from an instructional design perspective, but also from a change management perspective. The new system not only is more secure for public printing, but it also reduces paper and is more sustainable in the long run.
I served as a consultant on this project. I worked with the project manager, the vendor and the network administrators to conduct a task analysis and expert analysis to determine what the best ways to use the new printer/copiers are for basic functions such as printing, copying, scanning and faxing.
After conducting these analyses and helping suggest ways to improve the system, I surveyed faculty and staff and learned what functions they tend to use most, then I put together a documentation design plan for writing how-to guides using Google Sites, and I put together an Instructional Design document for training faculty and staff.
Finally, after all the materials were developed, I helped conduct training and support for faculty and staff as the new printer/copiers were delivered to different offices on campus.
Michael Gough
mbgough@gmail.com