Comments on: Reference Question of the Week - 9/21/08 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/09/27/reference-question-of-the-week-92108 or, The Hitchhiker's Guide to Fear and Loathing at a Public Library Reference Desk Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:26:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mimi http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/09/27/reference-question-of-the-week-92108#comment-50568 Mimi Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:09:23 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=437#comment-50568 I always loved to help the goth kids who came up to the desk. They usually wanted help with a book report on Jane Austen I always loved to help the goth kids who came up to the desk. They usually wanted help with a book report on Jane Austen

]]> By: Graeme Williams http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2008/09/27/reference-question-of-the-week-92108#comment-50567 Graeme Williams Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:10:32 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=437#comment-50567 I had an idea a few years ago that I should develop a class on how to learn, specifically, how to learn how to use a new Windows application. Suppose, for example, you had only ever used Word. How would you start familiarizing yourself with Powerpoint or Excel? The goal of the class would be to reduce a new user's level of fear (of breaking something?) so that they would feel comfortable working their way through all the menus, icons and key combinations. You could do the same thing with handheld devices such as iPods and smart phones. One thing that would be more difficult is that I'm not sure there's any way of displaying a device's screen through an overhead projector, as there is with a computer. The basic idea would be the same, though. The users wouldn't be trying to memorize (every menu item) so much as learn how to find (every menu item). I had an idea a few years ago that I should develop a class on how to learn, specifically, how to learn how to use a new Windows application. Suppose, for example, you had only ever used Word. How would you start familiarizing yourself with Powerpoint or Excel? The goal of the class would be to reduce a new user’s level of fear (of breaking something?) so that they would feel comfortable working their way through all the menus, icons and key combinations.

You could do the same thing with handheld devices such as iPods and smart phones. One thing that would be more difficult is that I’m not sure there’s any way of displaying a device’s screen through an overhead projector, as there is with a computer.

The basic idea would be the same, though. The users wouldn’t be trying to memorize (every menu item) so much as learn how to find (every menu item).

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