1. Sign up for a topic here: http://bit.ly/ArctosTutorialSignUp.
- Feel free to add new tutorials to the list or break up topics into more specific, shorter segments.
- Use any program to record your tutorial. For quick demos on how to record a screen share, check out these quick videos on PowerPoint and Google Zoom (also found on the Arctos YouTube channel).
2. Keep tutorials SHORT.
- Tutorials should be <10 minutes, ideally 1-4 minutes, with longer tutorials for overviews (5-8 minutes).
- A topic can be broken into multiple tutorials rather than creating one long recording. This way, users can easily find the exact step-by-step action that they need demonstrated.
3. Start your tutorial by stating the title of your topic (e.g., “How to Edit Agents in Arctos”) and orient viewers.
- After stating the topic, orient viewers to where you are in the database. You can either start from the main search page (e.g., “To edit an agent, navigate to Manage Data -> Agents….”), or start directly on the screen that you will be discussing (e.g., “From the Agent search page, click on…”).
4. Define vocabulary and demonstrate step-by-step instructions for your tutorial.
- If needed, give a brief sentence defining your topic (e.g., “An Encumbrance masks records or parts of records and can be used to delete records….”, “In Arctos, records can be linked using Relationships…”).
- Don’t just talk theoretically about how to carry out an action in Arctos — walk viewers through a real example demonstrating the exact steps needed to complete the action so users can see what happens when various buttons are clicked or the different screens involved. Clearly state and show the tabs, drop-down menus, or buttons needed, as if you are giving a recipe for how to replicate your actions.
5. Be sure to mention anything a user should know or avoid when interacting with a given feature.
For instance, when creating agents users should first double-check that the agent profile doesn’t already exist; users should pay close attention to any red boxes or “this is scary” warnings that could alter records belonging to other institutions; or check for well-surveyed specific localities before creating a slightly different variant, etc.
6. Feel free to state your name and institution at the end (e.g., “This tutorial was presented by…”).
7. Rename your MP4 files to match the tutorial topic (e.g., how_to_edit_agents.mp4) and drop the files into the Tutorial MP4s folder (http://bit.ly/ArctosTutorialMP4s).
8. Be sure to enter the date that you created the tutorial next to your name on the sign-up sheet (a quick way for us to know that you have completed the task). Following the blitz, tutorials will be linked to the Arctos YouTube channel and the associated Documentation and How-To pages.
Have questions? Contact emily.braker@colorado.edu
Thank you!