A new type of software learning tutorial

The Problem

I am trying to learn Maya right now. Maya is very complicated 3D modeling and animation software. To help myself get kick-started in it, I am using a 7 day trial of Lynda.com. Lynda provides video tutorials to learn software, and they are of a very high quality. They can be slow at times, but are solid.

Even these professionally produced expert guided video tutorials are not perfect, but of no flaw to Lynda. Rather, the problem stems from ones attention span. One cannot focus on two things at the same time. Using dual monitors, I like to put the software on one screen and the video on another, and then I follow along to the tutorial. This forces my attention to constantly switch back and forth between the two screens, and I often miss what the tutorial is saying. This is especially frustrating because at other times the tutorial is painfully slow. Most users are forced to watch a chapter, then do the lesson, then go back and watch it again. If they forget anything, it's rewind-buffer-rewatch time.

In Other Words

Software tutorials suck because they force you to switch attention back and forth, and it is hard to follow along while the tutorial is going on. It is hard to learn by doing.

The goal is to keep attention focused inside of the software one is learning, while still following instructions and explanations. The first idea was some overlay software that would point to different parts of the program and text would appear. This is possible, but too problematic and potentially buggy. What could I do to simulate a goatee'd man standing over a shoulder and pointing out different parts of the software?

Like this, but less creepy.

My Solution

My own solution/idea is very simple. Painfully simple, really: Audio-instructor. Audio lesson files to listen to while in the software, doing. (yes, DOING).

Wow, that sounds simple and awesome.

It certainly does. Let me some answer possible questions.

What about the pace? Couldn't users get lost?

As lost as "MOG" the cat

Most users have a pause button on their keyboards or nearby. I have one mapped onto a button on my mouse. Even if they do not, alt-tab + space +alt-tab will probably do the trick quickly. The idea is that the instructor would work at a quick pace, and the users could pause and get themselves caught up. This would mean all learn-ee's are are learning at their own pace, and faster than any video tutorial. Certain parts of the lesson could even command it. For example, learning vim. "Pause now and type a few lines. Resume when you are ready". or Maya "Load 'tutorial file one' and try to use the camera navigation tools to go through the maze. Pause now, and resume when you have finished this."

How would a pupil find his way around or understand icons?

The lack of any video should not be considered a disadvantage. The user has the software open. They can see it. They can follow along and would be looking at the same thing as any video.

Aside from "click the blue arrow, or press the w key to go to <tool>", which wouln't be terrible, one could have bundled with the audio file(s) would be a screen-cap image of the software with different, special, parts pointed out and labeled. One can always check this file if they get lost or do not understand where the instructor is asking them to go. (remember... pause is easy, and can be done without leaving software)


Heck, additional supplements, such as a short video tutorial to explain software layout and terminology, the previously described screen-shot, or tutorials created by other people in other places (all over the internet! hell, what's this "the documentation" anyway? F1? Crazy-talk).

This is better and easier.

Software tutorials do not need to have two images (video and open program) of the software visible at the same time. Keep the pupil inside of one and let them do the lessons for themselves at the same time as it is explained, as opposed to watching, then doing, then watching, then doing, etc. These tutorials are easy to create and audio files are universal, they can be implemented anywhere with already existing technology.

It's universal!

But what am I going to do about it?

I want to try this out on some software I know well. I could easily create a lesson plan for google docs, a short one, and give it away for free. I know a hell of a lot of software well enough to get many started (my secret: learn and recognize UI standards, and your in-software goal). I certainly am going to make an attempt at this, and let other's try it out. If it works, 1) Woohoo! and 2) I will pursue further, possibly setting up a website/small little tutorial creating company creating lessons for sale. The tough part is a witty name that wouldn't age like crap. (the MP3-tuts of today is the Beta-Max followalong's of tomorrow).

This has more uses than just software learning

This sort of package could help explain more than just software use, One could also teach specific things, like setting up/configuring a computer or server, programming, basic tech support, website using, or.. well, anything, really. The premise is solid enough one could take it out of the digital realm. Ipods and phones and possibly even my new toaster all play mp3 files. If a pause button is easily accessible, one could create follow-along listening tutorials for just about anything, from gardening to driving (OK, maybe not driving).

To the classroom!

Have you ever been taught software in a classroom setting? It's painfully slow and terrible for a million reasons I do not need to list. Instead, lets give each student a copy of the lesson, stick some headphones (that they have) on them, and let them at it. The faster pace would keep kids attention focused and have them learn more, faster. Online access would let students complete the lessons from anywhere, with their own machine they are comfortable using. This is the type of technology that could easily find use with the 'flipped classroom' methodology [Learn more about that here]. I have sat through way to many terrible computer apps classes that teach out-of-date software with out-of-date lessons, simply because there is no access to up-to-date resources that are cheap and easy to implement without retraining teachers. This can be fixed. So lets fix it!

These kids are having fun because they are AWESOME and agree with me.