Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with instructions

How do I differentiate instruction?

Elagabalus — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:46:37 -0800

Can you recommend a good book (or journal, or webpage) on differentiated instruction? Without going into too many specifics and writing 5 pages, I'm going to have to teach several "levels" of high school US history in the same room at the same time. Imagine regulars, honors, and mega-double-secret-honors in the same classroom, but with 3 separate (but at least fairly similar) classes going on, getting ready for 3 separate sets of exams at the end of the year.

So...what can I do to address my teaching to each individual's specific needs and target instruction at their "level", rather than have everyone do the same activity or same discussion, when they are not going to benefit from the same things? I mean, some stuff certainly benefits all students, such as analyzing primary source materials or interpreting charts and graphs, but some stuff is only going to be relevant to 1/3 of the class, like a particular essay that only 1/3 of them have to learn how to do...

Good books to recommend? I want to do right by my students and give them what they NEED, not just what is easiest for me.

Is there an RSS feed of instructions for taking care of a baby?

ND¢ — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:23:27 -0800

So we recently had a baby, and I am looking for an RSS feed that will teach me how to take care of her. I have a book, but I have never been great about reading non-fiction and it goes into a lot of detail about stuff, and I really just want bullet points. I just need the basics. Like I asked my wife this morning how long it would be until she just ate solid foods and I have asked like ten times when she gets potty trained, and I know I could look that stuff up, but who has the time?

Anyway, here is what I am looking for: an RSS feed that is timed to a baby's age. So then it updates you with information relevant to that age. Like "Your baby is 4 months old. She will start teething soon. Give her something to chew on or something." My wife gets the babycenter version of that weekly I think, and it is pretty good, but it is a lot of articles that you have to go read and I am really more interested in sentences rather than articles. Like a baby fact a day would be great.

So what I want are simple short instructions about how to care for a baby the age of my baby delivered by RSS feed. Does it exist? I googled but didn't see anything. Thanks a lot in advance.

How do I assemble a bbq without instructions

gfrobe — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:39:41 -0800

Bought a new gas bbq grill from someone on eBay but it didn't come with the assembly instructions. How can I track the instructions down or put it together without them? The grill doesn't have a brand name although on one of the pieces it says "Jinwoniu Industry Co Ltd. (China) with a model number 84842B. Googling hasn't turned up much.

The picture of the grill is here.

Aside from the stand, etc. a lot of the grill is already put together. The grill bit is attached inside (see picture) as is the regulator. I don't know what this is though or where it goes.

If anyone has a similar grill maybe they could let me know the manufacturer and model and I could then track down instructions? Or any other suggestions appreciated!

Operating an old teasmade?

pompomtom — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:49:52 -0800

Can anyone tell me how to operate a "Goblin Compact Teasmade 882"?

Examples of interactive product user guides

monkeystronghold — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:29:02 -0800

I'm looking for good examples of animated/interactive product user guides or instructions, preferably in Flash. I'm trying to find examples of products that use less text and more visual elements to explain to users how a product works, and to help them complete tasks (ex: taking a photo, printing a document, operating your toaster, etc). I've found a lot of marketing-centric "product overviews" that spin an object around 360 degrees, but don't show how DO something related to the product. I'm looking more for something filling the role of an instruction manual, but animated or interactive, so it uses fewer words.

perhaps i just need a better mouse.

verisimilitude — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 02:25:37 -0800

I'm looking for a software app that helps me follow instructions for other computer procedures. Sounds complicated? Well what i am looking for should be really simple.

I am trying to learn various programs (SPSS at the moment) and find step by step instructions on the webpages of benevolent souls really useful. Perhaps I'm monumentally lazy but I find clicking back and forth from SPSS to the webpage really irritating. I'm sure its a simple task to make my mozilla browser stay in the foreground, but I cant figure out how.

In searching for a solution it dawned on me that there should be an even better way forward. I propose a simple app that allows me to select (like PrtSc) a set of instructions from a webpage, then pins this text in a lightweight easy to move and modify window that stays in the foreground. That strikes me as a good idea, so I am some bright spark has already bettered it.

Translate my snack

anonaccount — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:02:22 -0800

I bought myself an instant "yakisoba". Just add hot water. Right? Here is a shot of the instructions.

From what I can tell from the woman at the counter, I add hot water, then drain it off after 3min and add the seasoning included. Is that right? There was a hell of a communication problem :)

regressing...

azriel2257 — Fri, 04 May 2007 11:14:48 -0800

How can I make slap-bracelets? (you know, the fad from the 80s/90s). A little random, I know, but it's for a bunch of geeks in my theater group. I can figure out everything except the most important part: what to use for the snapping part inside the bracelet. I've heard mention of metal tape-measures, but I'm not sure if that will work...and my google-fu is weak today.

Any ideas?

Cardboard Geodesic Dome

goalyeehah — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 18:10:09 -0800

I want to build a small, inexpensive geodesic dome using cardboard. Where can I find good specs and instructions? Is this even feasible with regular cardboard? The idea is to build a small dome with friends at a minimal cost with inexpensive materials. The idea is to make one that is 5-6 feet in diameter.
I do not know of any books by Bucky Fuller that actually give out this information.

I plan on doing during the Winter Solstice and have great fun doing it.

Installation intro, not really an intro, but needing a short name.

Blue Buddha — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 06:56:31 -0800

What should the first tab for online product installation instructions be named, if that tab presents an intro solely to the instructions, but is not an intro to the overall product demo? Therefore the word "intro" cannot be used. The word Intro cannot be used, because it is already being used as a "main menu" option in this product demonstration.

The main menu option in question is the Installation Guide, where the first tab gives an introduction to installation, but the second tab is actually step one.

Presently, the first tab, i.e. the intro, is numbered #1, then the second tab, step one is numbered #2, which may confuse people.

The word I'm looking for has to be short and concise, since it is part of a sub-menu bar, with 4 numbers (1-4) next to it as the four installation steps. I hope I explained this properly!

Reinstalling WinXP

LouMac — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 07:30:42 -0800

After a few hours of Google researching over the weekend, I could not find a simple, understandable guide for formatting my hard drive and re-installing Windows XP. I'm more interested in the actual process and less interested in being reminded to "backup everything." Does anyone know where I can find such a resource?