Parcel Manager Tutorial

Parcel Manager Tutorial

Sean McCartyEdTec 544

Rapid PrototypeDec 15, 2008

index.html (Title page)

Audio:(On pageload)

“Welcome to the Parcel Manager Tutorial for the Eleanor Roosevelt College Office of Residence Life. This tutorial will teach you how packages are distributed to students using the Parcel Manager software

program. Please click the next link in the bottom right corner when you are ready to start.”

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Flash animation of steps in

delivery process

instructions.html (explanation of tutorial)

Audio:(On pageload)

“This tutorial is divided into three sections. At the end of each section you will be asked a few questions to test your understanding of the content. You can proceed through the tutorial at your own pace. When you are ready to move to the next screen or section, click the ‘Next’ arrow in the bottom right corner of the

screen.”

NEXT

Flash animation

of instructions for tutorial

Instructions for Tutorial

Section Test Next Section

1 2 3

Instructions for Tutorial

section01a.html (first page of first section)

Audio:(On pageload)

“The first section is ‘How packages get to students.’ First, a private courier, such as UPS, DHL or FedEx will deliver a package for a student. The ResLife Office then notifies the student the package is available. The student then goes to the ResLife Office to pick up the package.”

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The Delivery Process

1 Courier

A private courier delivers a package to the ERC

ResLife Office.

Office2

ResLife Office receives package and notifies the

student.

Student3

The student goes to ResLife Office to receive and sign for the package.

Flash animation of delivery process.

Each step appears in sequence.

Section 1: How Packages Get to Students

section01b.html (second page of first section)

Audio:(On pageload)

“The Parcel Manager is used to track all packages delivered to the ResLife Office. The Parcel Manager tracks every step. When the courier delivers the package, the package is scanned and recorded. The student is then sent an email instructing them to pick up the package at the ResLife Office. When the student picks up the package and signs for it,

the Parcel Manager records the package has been delivered.”

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The Parcel Manager

1 Courier Office2 Student3

Flash animation

of how parcel

manager works in

connection with the delivery

process.

Section 1: How Packages Get to Students

Each package is scanned and recorded in the

Parcel Manager.

The Parcel Manager sends an email to the

student.

The Parcel Manager records the package has been delivered to

the student.

question01.html (test questions for section 1)

Audio:(On pageload)

“The following questions are based on Section 1: How Packages Get to Students. Each question is multiple choice.

You will get immediate feedback after you answer each question.”

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Question 1

Q Who contacts students to inform them their package has been delivered?

Questions will prompt reflection. More than

one answer will be

technically correct,

forcing the learner to reflect on which is best.

Section 1: Test Questions

A. ERC Residence Life staff B. Parcel Manager sends an automated email

C. The tracking system for the private courierD. A slip is placed in their mailbox


Audio:(On pageload)

“The answer is B. Students are notified by an automated email that is sent by the Parcel Manager. ERC Residence Life staff scan the package when it arrives, but the email is sent by the Parcel Manager program. Students can track their package through the private courier, but tracking system notifications vary by courier. Slips are not placed in

student mailboxes for packages delivered by private couriers. Click ‘Next’ when you are ready for the next question.”

NEXT

Question 1

A Who contacts students to inform them their package has been delivered?The learner

will get immediate feedback. There will be a short

explanation of why the answer is the best

one.


A. ERC Residence Life staff B. Parcel Manager sends an automated email

C. The tracking system for the private courierD. A slip is placed in their mailbox

section02a.html (first page of second section)

Audio:(On pageload)

“To understand how the Parcel Manager works, it is important to first understand its structure. The Parcel Manager is a software program with a series of related data files. The main program file is the actual software program and it does

not change. The associated data files change regularly depending on the package delivery process.”

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Structure of the Parcel Manager

Program FileFlash

animation of the basic structure of the Parcel Manager.

Section 2: How the Parcel Manager Works

Data File

Data FileData File

Data File

section02b.html (second page of second section)

Audio:(On pageload)

“The main program file is what starts and runs the program. When you click the Parcel Manager shortcut icon on the desktop, the main program file opens the Parcel Manager user interface. The program file accesses specific information from the data files. Without any data from the data files, the program will open but it will not show any

information. This is similar to when you open Microsoft Word and a blank document appears.”

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Program File of the Parcel Manager

• Starts and runs program

• User interface• Accesses information from

data files

Flash animation

of the functions of

the main file of the

Parcel Manager.


Data File

Data FileData File

Data File Program File

section02c.html (third page of second section)

Audio:(On pageload)

“The main program file pulls all of its information from data files. Each data file contains information about students and packages that is updated regularly. When you click on a data file, a simple file with text and information will open. A data file does not control or start the Parcel Manager. You can think of a data file like a word document that can be opened in Microsoft Word. You create the

information in the document, but Microsoft Word processes the information and enables you to update it.”

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Data Files of the Parcel Manager

Flash animation

of the functions of

the data files of the

Parcel Manager.


Data File

Data FileData File

• Contains data for Parcel Manager

• Updated regularly

Program File

Data File

section02d.html (fourth page of second section)

Audio:(On pageload)

“There are four data files that contribute data to the Parcel Manager. The first one contains the names of private couriers and the general text of the notification emails. The second data file contains student information: first and last name, email address and mailbox number. The third data file contains information of what packages were received by the office and the date they arrived. The fourth data file contains the information of packages that have been removed from the program after successful distribution.”

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The Four Types of Data Files

Program File

Flash animation of the four types of data files

for the Parcel

Manager.


Data File #3:

• Received packages

Data File #4:

• Removed packages

Data File #2:

• Student information

Data File #1:

• Program information


Audio:(On pageload)

“The following questions are based on Section 2: How the Parcel Manager Works. Each question is multiple choice.

You will get immediate feedback after you answer each question.”

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Question 2

Q What best describes the relationship of the main program file to the data files?

Possible answers will be worded

so that learners will

have to read and rule out

each option,

rather than skim to the one clear

right answer.


A. The program file is more important than the data files.

B. The program file and data files are interconnected.

C. The program file accesses information from the data files.

D. The program file runs the program, the data files contain information.


Audio:(On pageload)

“The answer is C. The program file accesses information from the data files. The program file starts and runs the Parcel Manager but it cannot function fully without the data files. The program and data files are interconnected but that does not explain how they relate to each other. The last choice simply describes facts about the files and does not

describe the how the files interact with each other.”

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Question 2

A What best describes the relationship of the main program file to the data files?The learner

may be frustrated if he/she is

wrong, but answering incorrectly will prompt

further reflection.


A. The program file is more important than the data files.

B. The program file and data files are interconnected.

C. The program file accesses information from the data files.

D. The program file runs the program, the data files contain information.

section03a.html (first page of third section)

Audio:(On pageload)

“You can use the Parcel Manager by opening its user interface. Click on the main program file or its desktop shortcut to open the interface. Within the user interface there are several possible actions you can take, however each option falls in one of two categories: looking up information or updating information that is contained in the data files. You can think of look-up actions as something that retrieves information from the data files. Update actions send information to the data files.“

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How to Use the Parcel Manager

1 ProgramFile

User Interface

2 Data Files3

Flash animation of how a

user interacts with the Parcel

Manager.

Section 3: The Parcel Manager and the Delivery Process

Look-up info

Click on the program file (or its shortcut) to

start and open the Parcel Manager.

Complete look-up or update actions using the Parcel Manager

interface.

Retrieve or send information

contained in the data files.

Update info

section03b.html (second page of third section)

Audio:(On pageload)

“Data Files are accessed or updated in each step of the delivery process. When a package is delivered, a record of the arrival is created in Data File #3. Data File #1 is accessed for information about the courier and Data File #2 is accessed for the name and mailbox number of the student. When a student is notified, Data File #1 is accessed for the text of the email and the office email address. Data File #2 is also accessed for the name and email address of the student. Next, when the student receives the package, the date of distribution is sent to Data File #4 along with the arrival date, name of courier and student information for the package. At the end of the day, all completed transactions are removed from the Parcel Manager interface and stored in Data File #4.”

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Creating Records in the Delivery Process


Flash animation

of how information is created and stored during the delivery

process.


A package is delivered: a record

is created using student name,

mailbox number, courier, and date of

arrival.

The student is notified: text of e-

mail and student e-mail information is

accessed from data files.

Student receives package: a record is created using courier name,

student information and arrival and

distribution date.

===

section03c.html (third page of third section)

Audio:(On pageload)

“It is good to know how the Parcel Manager works and how the program file accesses the data files. However, the most important thing to remember are the steps in the delivery process. If you can remember the three basic steps you will likely be able to recall the critical information the Parcel Manager needs and uses to complete each step. Then you will be able to use the program successfully as well as be better equipped to solve problems that arise in the delivery process.”

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Information in the Delivery Process


Flash animation

of the information critical to each step

in the delivery

process.


A package is delivered:

• Arrival date• Student name

• Mailbox number• Courier name

• Tracking number

The student is notified:

• Text of e-mail• Office e-mail

• Student e-mail

Student receives package:

• Courier name• Student name

• Mailbox number• Arrival Date

• Distribution date


Audio:(On pageload)

“The following questions are based on Section 3: The Parcel Manager and the Delivery Process. Each question is

multiple choice. You will get immediate feedback after you answer each question.”

NEXT

Question 3

Q How are records created in the data files of the Parcel Manager?

Possible answers will be worded

so that learners will

have to read and rule out

each option,

rather than skim to the one clear

right answer.


A. A data file accesses information from other data files.

B. Arrival and distribution dates are entered; all other information is accessed from data files.

C. Information about each package and students is input into the program.

D. The program file sends information to the data files..


Audio:(On pageload)

“The correct answer is B. Arrival and distribution dates for packages must be scanned in to the system; all other information is contained within one of the data files. A data file accesses other data files, but that is not the only way a new record is created. Information can be input in the program manually, but that is also not the only way a new record

is created. The program file assists in the process, but that does not fully describe how a record is created.”

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Question 3

A How are records created in the data files of the Parcel Manager?Once

again, the questions present an excellent

opportunity to reinforce the lessons

in each section.


A. A data file accesses information from other data files.

B. Arrival and distribution dates are entered; all other information is accessed from data files.

C. Information about each package and students is input into the program.

D. The program file sends information to the data files..

finish.html (end of tutorial)

Audio:(On pageload)

“Congratulations! You have completed the Parcel Manager Tutorial. For step-by-step instructions on how to complete each action in the Parcel Manager, please refer to the Student Assistant Manual in the ERC ResLife Office.”

You have successfully completed the Parcel Manager

Tutorial.

Documents

Parcel Manager Tutorial