Handouts at AU
Posted by Joseph Wurcher on October 10, 2006
Looking at the number of handouts printed for last years AU and the number of handout downloads from the AU Online website, it appears that they are very important to the overall AU experience. I would like to find out from you what you consider a good handout; how do you use them?
Should it be:
- just a good recap of the session
- a jobaide to get a specific task done
- a reference (contact info/more background)
How do you use the handouts while at AU?
How about back in the office?
What would be the number 1 thing we (meaning the presenters) could do to make handouts more useful?
Your comments to any of the above are greatly appreciated.
Melanie said
Handouts are most useful when they’ve got key points and references on them for later use.
I take them back to the office, but, spend awhile catching up on the work I missed while gone, then it’s time for Christmas and New Year’s, etc, and it will be January or February when I finally get the chance to try one of the improvements I learned at AU. There has to be enough information to job my memory and get me back to when I understood the concept as it was taught.
*AT* AU, the handouts are to scribble notes or important contacts/references on, but, back in the office, they are my only lifeline to a more learned place.
George said
I agree with Melanie. Handouts should have strong points and references, and if possible screen captures of appropriate windows when dealing with technical points ie: the Enterprise CUI and how its being edited. I am still using my handouts from AU2004 as well as AU2005, they are invaluable when trying to learn the new techniques discussed as well as for jogging the memory. There is always so much good information and techniques given in such a concentrated period of time you need to be able to jog back to remembering the class.
Brian Myers said
Using them as Reference material is the most important thing. The reason behind this is something I’ve been taught in order to improve my own presentations… remove the “Magic” factor. The Magic factor is that point where you’ve demonstrated a handful of things then “poof” you do a bit of magic in the demonstration… that magic of course is forgetting to describe a step you just did (like a right-click, going to properties, etc) then suddenly everyone is lost. This happens without good handouts too. The reason is that we can’t raise our hand (easily) and ask the presenter to explain something to us again. So we either need to take notes constantly or watch the demonstration constantly and it’s very difficult to do both. Good handouts fill in that gap and give a better explanation of when Magic occurs or at the least point you in the right direction of where to find answers.
Mark McManus said
The handouts need to have good screen captures and easy to follow steps. It would also be nice to have an easier way to download all the handouts at once. I have to create training materials from the classes I attend so I can “pass on” the information to all our other drafters in the company.
Mark Swink said
Where do you download these handouts? Can someone provide a link? This is my first AU so I am trying to learn how to get the most from the experience.
Joseph Wurcher said
Mark,
AU 2006 handouts will be posted in December of this year – as an attendee of AU, you will get login info in early December.
YOu can take a look at AU Online 2005 – http://www.autodesk.com/auonline
Billy said
All: This is good information. What would also be helpful is to have all material for the class (handout, white paper AND the presentation) available as a single PDF file. If possible, this file should be labeled with the course number AND a descriptive title (e.g. DM32-2.pdf – Simplifying Document Management). In the past I’ve downloaded the files and some had a description, some did not and 6 months later I had no idea what the file was unless I opened it.