paper -
24 Hitting a Moving Target: The Handout Revision Project
Patti
Landau, Texas A&M University
Stephen McGinnis, Texas A&M University
Computing and Information Services at Texas A & M
University provides documentation for the multitude of programs available in
its Open Access Labs. We recognized
that we needed to develop a program to ensure that our customers' constantly
changing needs for clear, concise, accurate handouts are met in a timely
manner. We began our massive Handout
Revision Project in December 1999 by first reviewing all existing handouts in
public distribution to identify those needing editing. Our initial review helped us to catalog
topics not covered by existing handouts.
We then began to revise those handouts that could be updated, and to
create new handouts to address developing customer needs. We created a handout template to ensure that
all our handouts have a uniform appearance, and developed a tracking procedure
to monitor the progress of new handouts and material under revision. We also developed a review procedure to be
certain that all handouts are clear and accurate!
Before being placed in production for public distribution. A standing committee handouts whose members represent several critical areas inside CIS reviews all new or revised. An annual review for all handouts will ensure that all our documentation is kept up to date. Our Handout Revision Project and its companion Handout Review Procedure subject all our documentation to high standards in clarity and accuracy.
Keywords: Handouts, Documentation