Assignment Five - Facebook Tutorial (Katie Dreier)

“Where people’s mental models do not understand or appreciate [the technology] … such technologies will be interpreted and used as if they were more familiar technologies” (362). While facebook has tools that mimick other technologies such as e-mail, not all of its features are intutitive. Thereore, my Facebook How-To would make clear to the user from the start that whereas some features seem similar, this social networking site differs from previous technologies. Further, “education should stress the required shift in technological frame, as well as provide technical and logistic information on use” (368). This is exactly what my tutorial would do; stress the importance of accepting new ‘ways,’ by ignoring old frames of reference.

My How To would have chapters; each dedicated to an increasingly more difficult Facebook task. Each chapter would be a step-by-step list of how to accomplish each task, accompanied by appropriately labeled screen shots. The tutorial would present facebook as an “all-in-one social networking tool.” Since “when confronted with a new technology, individuals try to understand it in terms of their existing technological fames, often augmenting these frames to accommodate special aspects of the technology,” the training will make clear that while facebook mimicks some previously used social networking tools, it should be approached as a new, all-inclusive technology. (Orlikowski, 364).

Orlikowski admits “existing frames may be inappropriate, and individuals will need to significanly modify their technological frames in order to understand or interact effectively with the new technology” (364). The paper refers to this process as a “significant problem.” I wouldn’t want users to dismiss Facebook for its new innovative ideas. “If people have a poor or inappropriate understanding of the unique and different features of a new technology they may resist using it” (364). The goal is to provide the user with the broadest and widest understanding possible of Facebook.

Orlikowski suggests, “demonstrations of group applications can help to provide insight. Learning collectively may foster joint understanding and expectations” (368). In-person demonstrations will therefore supplement the in-depth chapters. Hopefully, “through experimentation and use over time, creative ideas and innovations will flourish” (368-369).

This training would require a significant amount of time to be invested. I would strive to “make the costs and benefits relatively clear” though. (Grudin 324). Since “individuals are happy if the technology makes life easier,” I’m positive this will translate into a positive return on investment. (Grudin 324). Grudin comments “time is needed to establish conventions and practices governing use,” but that the performance will payoff. (327).