Instructional Activities Week 1
| Deadline & Focus | Activity | Time Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: Welcome to BTW 261; Technical Writing and Your Goals | Read the “Welcome Tab” on MoodlePost to the “Fast Facts” discussion board according to the prompts listed on the Canvas assignment page | 75 minutes |
| Day 2: Technical Descriptions; the Curse of Knowledge | Read “7.4 Technical Descriptions and Definitions” from Technical Writing Essentials. Read “The Curse of Knowledge” from The University of Arizona Complete the Technical Description and Curse of Knowledge Prelab based on the above readings | 75 minutes |
Instructional Activities Week 2
| Deadline & Focus | Activity | Time Etimate |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: Audience Analysis and Design Thinking | Read “The Five Stages of Design Thinking” from the University of Nebraska’s Graduate Student Professional Development Page (focus on stages 1-2). Complete the Design Thinking and Audience Analysis Prelab based on the above readings | 75 minutes |
| Day 2: Intro to Client Needs Report; Research and Documentation | Read the Description Portfolio instructionsRead “5.1 Citations” from Technical Writing. Complete the Client Needs Prelab based on the above readings. | 60-75 minutes |
Instructional Activities Week 3
| Deadline & Focus | Activity | Time Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: Introduction to User Testing | Read “Usability Testing 101” from Nielsen Norman Group. View “Why User Testing Matters” on Twitter (optional)Continue working on your Client Needs Report. | 60 minutes |
| Day 2: User Testing Documents | Read “How to Test the Usability of Documents” from UXMatters Submit a draft of your Technical Description | 75 minutes |
Instructional Activities Week 4
| Deadline & Focus | Activity | Time Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: Plain Language | Read “The Secret to Good Writing: It’s about Objects, Not Ideas” from The Atlantic Continue working on your Client Needs Report | 60 minutes |
| Day 2: Usability Reports | Read “Reporting Usability Test Results” from Usability.gov Submit a draft of your Client Needs Report | 75 minutes |