Animated Demonstrations for Learning Procedural Computer-Based Tasks

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Abstract
Animated demonstrations display the execution of interface procedures. They appear to be a natural and fast way for users to learn direct-manipulation interfaces by watching. To assess their effectiveness for users learning HyperCard™, we compared carefully matched animated demonstrations, procedural textual instructions, and demonstrations combined with spoken procedural text. During training, demonstration users were faster and more accurate than text-only users. Without the instructions, 7 days later, text-only users were faster and as accurate as demonstration users in recalling and performing identical and similar tasks without the instructions. Surprisingly, users of the combined demonstrations with spoken text closely mirrored the results of the demonstration-only users. The poor retention and transfer for the demonstration users appeared to be due to mimicry of the demonstrated procedures. Even with accompanying spoken text, the simplicity of using animated demonstrations may encourage superficial...