Olga Trouskova 1

Instructions Assignment

Building a “Walking Bridge”

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Olga Trouskova
Instructions Assignment
Professional and technical Writing

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 Olga Trouskova 2
Instructions Assignment

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ..............................................................................................................................3

Description of Equipment and Materials

How to download software and the basics of its navigation and use ............. 3-4
Visual representation of materials (Logo pieces) ................................................... 5

Caution and Warning

Caution and Warning .................................................................................................. 5

Directions/Instructions for Building the “Walking Bridge” Model

Building the first layer ............................................................................................. 6-7
Building the second layer............................................................................................ 7
Building the third layer ........................................................................................... 8-9
Building the fourth layer ..................................................................................... 10-11

Appendix
Memo ........................................................................................................................... 12
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Instructions Assignment

Building a Lego “Walking Bridge”

Introduction

The instructions will guide you though the construction of a ―walking bridge‖ model
though the Legal Digital Designer website. The following instructions were designed for
college students who are already familiar with the use of computers and the Internet. The
users of these instructions should be able to utilize the online Lego Digital Designer
website after a brief introduction to its usage. Furthermore, the instructions are meant to
guide the users through the construction of a specific model—the ―Walking Bridge.‖ Not
following the instructions could result in the creation of a distinct model with different
characteristics.

Description of Equipment and Materials

To build the ―Walking Bridge‖ structure, it is first necessary to download the Lego
Digital Designer. The Lego Digital Designer software can be downloaded for free from
http://ldd.lego.com/ by clicking on “Download LDD” and following the subsequent
instructions to complete the download.
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Instructions Assignment
It is crucial to know how to use through the tools and features in the downloaded
software. The following features are used often in the construction of the model (see
below image for their locations):

 To copy pieces: Click on the clone icon/tool, then click on the piece that you
want to copy
 To move pieces: Click on the select icon, then click and hold on the desired
piece.
 To select a piece: Use the select icon to choose a piece from the Brick Palette
shown on the left (below)
 To place a piece in a specific location: Once the piece has been selected,
move it towards the desired location, and click on that location
 To delete a piece: Click on the delete icon, then click on the piece you want to
delete
 To rotate the model: Use arrows on the circular icon on the screen
 To rotate a piece: Click on the chosen piece, then use the arrows on your
keyboard to rotate the piece in the desired direction
 To choose a color for a piece from the Palette
 To change a color of a piece in the model: Click on the paint tool/icon, then
click on the piece you want to modify and choose the color from the pop out
window
 To zoom in our out: Use the + or – on the circular icon

To select

To copy

To delete

To rotate; to
zoom in/out
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Instructions Assignment
You will need the following pieces to construct your model. Each piece is found in a
specific category, which will be mentioned in the instructions.

Round brick

Fabuland Standard
Brick with Bow

Brick 2x10

Brick 2x6

Fence 1x4x2 Brick 2x8

Categories: count
from left to right
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Instructions Assignment
Caution/Warning

 It is important to use the select arrow to choose pieces. If the delete icon was
previously used, it is important to choose the select arrow. Otherwise, you will
delete every piece that you will select with the arrow.
 The pieces that you will be using can all be found in the Brick Palette tool,
which contains 24 expandable categories (counted from left to right).
 To ensure that all the pieces have been placed in the correct location and
angle, rotate the model. This will allow you to view the model from different
angles.
 It is crucial that you work within the squares of the platform –this will help
you build the structure straight rather than crooked and to accurately measure
distances between different components of the model
 Do not forget to periodically save your work

Directions/Instructions for Constructing the Model:

It is easier to construct the model by following the instructions for each of the four layers
of the model. Please consult the graphs for a visual representation of the construction of
each layer in the model

Building the first layer:

1. To begin using the program, first open the program and then chose the “ Choose
Free Build” option. This option will allow you to build a model of your own
rather than to build from a pre-built model.
NOTE: Remember that categories are counted from left to right.
2. In the palette, expand and select the category 7 select Brick and Bow 1x6x2
(LIGHT GRAY color) within the category
NOTE: Place your Lego pieces within the squares of the platform so it would be
easier to construct a straight model
3. Move this piece to approximately the middle of the platform and place it there
with the correct orientation (see figure 2)

Figure 2
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Instructions Assignment
4. Align and place another Brick and Bow piece next to the first one
5. Using the clone and select tools to copy the two pieces
6. Paste the new set approximately 3 squares away from the initial set
7. Copy again and paste the second new set approximately 3 squares away from the
initial set (see figure 3)

Figure 3

Building the second layer:

8. Choose and expand category 1  select the Brick 2 X 6 (DARK GRAY) from
the palette
9. Attach the brick over the Brick and Bow set. Do this three times (you should have
one brick on top of each Brick and Bow set) (see figure 4).

Figure 4
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Instructions Assignment

Building the third layer:

10. Choose and expand category 1  select Brick 2 X 8 Brick (DARK BLUE)
NOTE: Please see figure 5 to visualize the exact placement/orientation of the brick
piece. Also try rotating the structure to ensure that pieces have been completely
attached

Figure 5

11. Attach the brick over the previously constructed second layer (see figure 5)
12. Attach two of the same bricks next to the first brick (see figure 6)

Figure 6
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Instructions Assignment
13. Select category 1 select 2 X 10 Brick (DARK BLUE)
14. Attach this new brick over the second layer (see figure 7)

Figure 7

15. Attach two more of the same bricks next to the first brick (your third layer should
be complete by this point) (see figure 8)

Figure 8
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Instructions Assignment

Building the fourth layer:

16. Select category 11 select Fence 1X4X2 (BLUE color)

17. Arrange 8 fences on top of the third layer, as shown in figure 9

Figure 9

―Opening‖

18. Select category 15 select the Fabuland Standard (looks like a tower)
19. Place one Fabuland Standard in one of the ―openings‖ between the fences
20. Place the second Fabuland Standard in the other ―opening‖ between the fences
(see figure 10)

Figure 10
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Instructions Assignment
21. Select category 2 select round brick (TRANSPARENT LIGHT BLUE
color)
22. Place one round brick on top of the Fabuland Standard. Place another round brick
on top of the second Fabuland Standard (see figure 11)
23. Congratulations! You are done with your model!

Figure 11
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Instructions Assignment
Appendix

To: Mr. Anthony F Arrigo

From: Olga Trouskova
Date: February 13, 2009

Subject: User testing feedback and the changes that have been made in response to this feedback

I have completed two user tests of my instructions for the construction of my model (―Walking
Bridge‖). The purpose of these two users tests was to determine the effectiveness and clarity of my
instructions manual. Based on the feedback given to my by these two users (college students), I
have modified my instructions to accommodate their recommendations. Flaws in wording and
organization were revealed and appropriate changes have been made, as it is described below.

User Testing Process

Two college students (both 21 years old) were provided with a computer and access to the Internet
on February 13, 2009. They were provided with a hard copy of the instructions manual and
instructed to speak out loud about any difficulties they might encounter in its use. Their
complaints, difficulties, and suggestions were recorded. The room in which the testing took place
was quiet with minimal amount of distractions that could potentially affect understanding of the
instructions.

Feedback from Users

The instructions should be simple, concise, and well-organized. Unnecessary words should be
eliminated or replaced with symbols such as arrows in order to reduce wordiness. For example,
instead of writing ―In the palette, find the brick 2X6 in the first category and choose the red color
for this piece,‖ write ―Select category 1 Brick 2X6 (RED).

From the example mentioned above, it is also evident that users like to see bolded words/phrases.
This technique helps readers find and remember the most important information, and it is
especially helpful in a paragraph that has a lot of text.

Instead of placing images/figures on separate pages, the images/figure should be placed right after
the step that they are referring. Users do not want to go from one page to another, looking for
information that they need to complete the step. They want it all in one place. So, each step in the
instructions should contain all the information needed to complete the model. In other words, the
information should not be ―scattered‖ all over the place.

Occasional reminders should be included in order to reminder the user of important hints or
warnings. Users tend to forget details that were mentioned earlier in the model. Occasional
reminders prevent users from making mistakes.

Changes Made to the Instructions

Based on the feedback provided from my users, I rearranged my figures/images and placed them
after the step they referred to rather than on a separate page. The descriptions of the locations of
each Lego piece was also incorporated into the steps rather than placed on a separate page at the
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Instructions Assignment
Olga I Trouskova 2 February 13, 2009

beginning of the manual. Users prefer to have all of the information in one place rather than
scattered throughout the manual.

I replaced some words with arrows or numbers in order to eliminate wordiness. I also bolded
words in my warning/caution section in order to help the user recognize the main point of each
paragraph in this section. Important key words in my steps were also bolded, helping users
remember these key words—such as the color of the piece or the category in the palette.

Please read over my instructions manual. I am open to any additional changes you might suggest.