Students were given instructions to follow in class. The outcome: how to draw a monkey. During this exercise, students realized firsthand that when instructions are too wordy and unclear, and not given in steps, the outcome can be disastrous!
The following question was posed during a group work session. The dot jots are the result of one group's discussion.
List as many different strategies as you can think of that can make procedures, instructions, directions and explanations easier for someone else to understand:
- Add pictures / visuals
- Make it specific / detailed
- Edit to make sure everything makes sense
- Make sure there isn't more than one step combined
- Use clear language!
- Write so that it is understood
- Put your steps in order
- Don't have too many or too few steps
HOMEWORK: Write a set of "how to" instructions. Use the procedure outline we discussed in class. Your steps will be evaluated by a peer in class.
