Observation of Mental Models -- The Team


The group was me, Kevin Hinshaw, and Kurt Partridge. Essentially, we had three separate observation sessions. We each took each of the three roles (observer, expert, novice) once.

In the first task, Kurt performed some searching and information-gathering tasks in a web site/archive. I was the expert (the site was one I maintain), and Kevin observed.

In the second task, Kevin assigned me tasks with the layout program Interleaf while Kurt observed.

In the third session, I observed while Kurt tutored Kevin in TkTCL and gave him a task.


As things were planned, I would report on the third session. However, we all agreed that the session was less than inspiring, that Kevin got too bogged down in the details of the program he was trying to modify. Therefore, I'll also be reporting on the first session. Mostly, Kurt didn't require much tutelage -- dealing with the tasks was more a matter of exploring and figuring out the site than needing specific help. So I was free to observe.

Kevin also reported on the website session.

Kurt reported on the layout program session.


Mike Perkowitz