Re: Software Training: Video only -v- Blended

[Tony Chung <tonyc -at- tonychung -dot- ca>]

Ginger,

Excellent topic, and pertinent to my current work. Here's an story that may
demonstrate my preference:

I was helping a colleague remotely to edit a video using Camtasia. When I
didn't know something, I searched for it. Camtasia training is provided
only through video. I found the topic I needed for the version we used, and
watched it while on a screen sharing session with my colleague. I paused at
points, found the part that looked right, then shared the knowledge.

To me, it was effective that the video content matched the topic title. If
the title were one thing but the video showed another, it wouldn't have
worked so well. On the downside, I didn't like having to scan the video to
find the specific content I wanted. I would have preferred to see a summary
below the video that explained what the video contained.

However, knowing how difficult it is to create videos of a consistent
quality on a repeatable basis, and the fact Camtasia is first and foremost
a video editing software, I don't hold it against them. I still manage to
solve my problems because of their excellent content strategy.

My two sense. (Or is that horse scents? LOL)

Cheers,
-Tony

On Thursday, 17 March 2016, Stuckey, Ginger <X2BVSHEW -at- southernco -dot- com> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I'm back with another question. My company is switching some engineering
> software so they can get better metrics and make 3D and 2D models more
> intelligent.  It is a major philosophy shift. Key team members from each
> engineering discipline are going through different types of training. Out
> of that, we need to train the rest of the employees.
>
> The person who is supposed to oversee training thinks video only is the
> way to go. You can find all kinds of documentation to support that but not
> much specific to software training (so far).
>
> My position, as an experienced writer, is that you need a blended
> approach. Video is fine but have some written documentation to go along
> with it so that users have something to refer to later if they don't want
> to find or watch a video. Documentation can be in any format so don't get
> hung up on that. I also think videos should be no longer than 5 to 7
> minutes not 15 or longer. Users also need someone available to ask
> questions and that should be part of the mix.
>
> Based on your experience in the real world, what works for software
> training.
>
> Ginger Stuckey
> Technical Publications - Design
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and
> content development | http://techwhirl.com
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as tonyc -at- tonychung -dot- ca
> <javascript:;>.
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com <javascript:;>
>
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com <javascript:;>. Visit
> http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and
> info.
>
> Looking for articles on Technical Communications?  Head over to our online
> magazine at http://techwhirl.com
>
> Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions?  Search our public
> email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and content development | http://techwhirl.com

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com


Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and info.

Looking for articles on Technical Communications?  Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com

Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions?  Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives