NationStates Jolt Archive


Do people know how to follow directions?

Dexlysia
18-09-2007, 22:43
That is a serious question...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/462511424_d0d3e14061_o.png
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/462520081_02845d1f42_o.png

EDIT: Nevermind, apparently, they fixed it now...
Tekania
18-09-2007, 22:44
That is a serious question...
Ashmoria
18-09-2007, 22:44
being able to follow directions requires that those directions are given clearly in a form that the follower is able to understand.

so yes and no.
Isidoor
18-09-2007, 22:47
That is a serious question...

Yes.
HotRodia
18-09-2007, 22:52
Could you show me how to answer this question? I've never answered it before.
Extreme Ironing
18-09-2007, 23:33
Well, if you got a piece of paper and coloured it with bright colours and put 'Directions' in large font on it, I'm sure some people would follow it like mindless sheep if you dangled it in front of them.
Kryozerkia
18-09-2007, 23:37
Well, if you got a piece of paper and coloured it with bright colours and put 'Bible' in large font on it, I'm sure some people would follow it like mindless sheep if you dangled it in front of them.

;) Amended. :)
Swilatia
18-09-2007, 23:38
um... what is this thread about anyway?
The Abe Froman
18-09-2007, 23:43
;) Amended. :)

And the new and irritating trend continues. There's better ways to be clever.
The Abe Froman
18-09-2007, 23:46
um... what is this thread about anyway?

I dunno. The OP didn't give me any directions.
Bitchkitten
19-09-2007, 00:09
Written directions, no problem. Verbal directions, I'll end up in another state. Anything that requires more than one turn necessitates a map.

And it doesn't count if I write them down. They started out as verbal. Something is always lost in translation.
The Abe Froman
19-09-2007, 00:12
And I intentionally answered the poll wrong. Just to screw up your results. Have a nice day.;)
Smunkeeville
19-09-2007, 00:37
In my experience about 98% of the people I come into contact with on a daily basis cannot follow basic directions.

examples>

Turn south on Harvey, go two blocks, turn East

Write a one page paper about a current event

Shut up and go away


today, all of these were met with a look like this > :confused:
Smunkeeville
19-09-2007, 00:39
Written directions, no problem. Verbal directions, I'll end up in another state. Anything that requires more than one turn necessitates a map.

And it doesn't count if I write them down. They started out as verbal. Something is always lost in translation.

I don't like the "turn left at the horse" people because

a) they have no clue what direction I am coming from, so it won't always be left and so when I ask "east or west?" they don't know

and

b) sometimes horses move....you know because they are living. what if the freaking horse dies or something!? tell me the name of the damn road!
Bitchkitten
19-09-2007, 00:41
In my experience about 98% of the people I come into contact with on a daily basis cannot follow basic directions.

examples>

Turn south on Harvey, go two blocks, turn East

Write a one page paper about a current event

Shut up and go away


today, all of these were met with a look like this > :confused:About half the people I know still can't seem to tell east, west, north or south. I'm totally scatterbrained and can't remember what day of the week it is, but I still know- Tulsa is east, Okc is west, Texas is south and Kansas is north. Why is that so hard?
Katganistan
19-09-2007, 02:08
People cannot follow directions.

On the last essay test I gave, I WROTE ON THE BOARD IN BIG BLOCK LETTERS:

TODAY: OUTLINE AND/OR FIRST DRAFT OF ESSAY -- up to 15 out of 100 pts.
TOMORROW: FINAL DRAFT OF ESSAY -- up to 85 out of 100 pts.


On the test paper, it gave the topic and below was printed in bold:

September 17, 2007 -- Outline and/or first draft of this essay, to be done in class and handed in at end of period. It will be graded for up to 15 out of 100 pts of your test grade.

September 18, 2007 -- You will get your outline/first draft back in order to write your final draft of this essay. The final draft is worth up to 85 out of 100 pts of your test grade.

I then VERBALLY informed students: Do the outline today for up to 15 points of your test grade... write the final draft tomorrow, that's worth 85 points... your final grade on this test will be the values of the two parts added together.



Do you know how many people did not write an outline at all?

Do you know how many people did not come in for the second half of the test?

Do you know how many people asked if the outline "counts"?

Do you know how many people asked, "I was supposed to write an outline?"
King Arthur the Great
19-09-2007, 02:24
People cannot follow directions.

On the last essay test I gave, I WROTE ON THE BOARD IN BIG BLOCK LETTERS:

TODAY: OUTLINE AND/OR FIRST DRAFT OF ESSAY -- up to 15 out of 100 pts.
TOMORROW: FINAL DRAFT OF ESSAY -- up to 85 out of 100 pts.


On the test paper, it gave the topic and below was printed in bold:

September 17, 2007 -- Outline and/or first draft of this essay, to be done in class and handed in at end of period. It will be graded for up to 15 out of 100 pts of your test grade.

September 18, 2007 -- You will get your outline/first draft back in order to write your final draft of this essay. The final draft is worth up to 85 out of 100 pts of your test grade.

I then VERBALLY informed students: Do the outline today for up to 15 points of your test grade... write the final draft tomorrow, that's worth 85 points... your final grade on this test will be the values of the two parts added together.

Seems easy enough. Could crank out something like that in five minutes and the second part in fifteen.

Do you know how many people did not write an outline at all?

1/4?

Do you know how many people did not come in for the second half of the test?

1/3?

Do you know how many people asked if the outline "counts"?

1/2?

Do you know how many people asked, "I was supposed to write an outline?"

2/3?

Seriously, we need to start putting the emphasis back on critical thinking and problem solving. Now our kids aren't even going to be good secretaries.

:(
Katganistan
19-09-2007, 02:29
Seems easy enough. Could crank out something like that in five minutes and the second part in fifteen.

What my students apparently could not do was read the directions written for them twice, or listen to the explanation given to them verbally.

No doubt it's all my fault.
King Arthur the Great
19-09-2007, 02:38
What my students apparently could not do was read the directions written for them twice, or listen to the explanation given to them verbally.

No doubt it's all my fault.

In terms of portions of your class, how close was I to your obviously rhetorical questions? I like answering rhetorical questions, sometimes, they're the only ones that make any sense. :)
Nobel Hobos
19-09-2007, 04:26
What my students apparently could not do was read the directions written for them twice, or listen to the explanation given to them verbally.

No doubt it's all my fault.

Sounds like a conspiracy to me! Pass a note around "don't do the outline -- she'll flip and scream at us. Then we don't have to do essay, because it's her fault" ;)

I guess this is why there's sometimes a reading time for the instructions and the airheads are not allowed to flip right to the test.
Katganistan
19-09-2007, 04:38
In terms of portions of your class, how close was I to your obviously rhetorical questions? I like answering rhetorical questions, sometimes, they're the only ones that make any sense. :)

Sadly, pretty close.

Sounds like a conspiracy to me! Pass a note around "don't do the outline -- she'll flip and scream at us. Then we don't have to do essay, because it's her fault" ;)

I guess this is why there's sometimes a reading time for the instructions and the airheads are not allowed to flip right to the test.

No, I don't yell. If one doesn't do the outline, one's grade has just gone down 15 points. Now one is starting with a possible best score of 85. If one can't read the directions, nor follow the verbal directions on formatting, what are the chances one will include the full analysis using literary techniques and devices necessary to get a perfect score?

If one does the essay only on the day when the outline is to be done, then skips class the next day without a valid reason... it's worth 15 points.
Nobel Hobos
19-09-2007, 04:47
As to navigational instructions (might be what the thread is about, who can say) it's a sad fact that many people can't give comprehensible directions. The best you can do is nod and say thanks, then just ask someone else.

Even worse, some people plain don't know where the post office is and instead of admitting that they make shit up. Like, one chance in ten of getting there is better than having to ask someone else??
Layarteb
19-09-2007, 05:32
That is a serious question...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/462511424_d0d3e14061_o.png
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/462520081_02845d1f42_o.png

EDIT: Nevermind, apparently, they fixed it now...

Lots of swimming...
H N Fiddlebottoms VIII
19-09-2007, 05:36
Even worse, some people plain don't know where the post office is and instead of admitting that they make shit up. Like, one chance in ten of getting there is better than having to ask someone else??
I've noticed that, too.
I even did it once, but, in my defense, I was trying to impress someone I was with at the time, so I could hardly admit that I didn't know how to get to City Hall.
Or, at least, that was my thinking at the time.
King Arthur the Great
19-09-2007, 05:36
Lots of swimming...

That was just a cool off. :D
H N Fiddlebottoms VIII
19-09-2007, 05:38
Lots of swimming...
You should see the directions from San Francisco to Hong Kong.
Gataway
19-09-2007, 05:48
Depends on what kind of directions...for instance once while in a rural area I was told to "go down past the fence with all the cows next to it..they're always there next to frank's Barn"

Now those kind of directions leave me with a wtf :confused::headbang::upyours: kind of feeling...

If you tell me to take exit 14 and turn right at the intersection...then I can figure out where the hell to go...of course this is all now moot because I have a GPS navigation system in my car that even detours me around traffic and such...
Cannot think of a name
19-09-2007, 06:04
About half the people I know still can't seem to tell east, west, north or south. I'm totally scatterbrained and can't remember what day of the week it is, but I still know- Tulsa is east, Okc is west, Texas is south and Kansas is north. Why is that so hard?

This is why I live on the coast-West is water. From there I can figure it out.
JuNii
19-09-2007, 06:11
Sadly, pretty close.



No, I don't yell. If one doesn't do the outline, one's grade has just gone down 15 points. Now one is starting with a possible best score of 85. If one can't read the directions, nor follow the verbal directions on formatting, what are the chances one will include the full analysis using literary techniques and devices necessary to get a perfect score?

If one does the essay only on the day when the outline is to be done, then skips class the next day without a valid reason... it's worth 15 points.

the problem might be retention and not direction following. I suggest the following test should be given to your students. and anyone here can take it also.

What you will need:
1 Sheet of paper
1 Pencil or Black or Blue ink pen

Time limit: 10 minutes.

+++

Reading Test
Follow each direction below.

1. Read everything before doing anything.

2. Put your name in the upper right hand corner.

3. Circle the word “name” in sentence 12.

4. Write the date in all capital letters in the upper left corner of this page.

5. Draw five small squares under your name.

6. Put an X in each square you drew.

7. Put a circle around each square.

8. Put a circle around all of sentence 7.

9. Put an X under your last name.

10. On the back of this paper multiply 733 by 419

11. Draw a rectangle around the larger of the two numbers in sentence 10.

12. Loudly call out your first name when you read this so your teacher can see who got this far.

13. If you think you have followed directions carefully up to this point, call out, “I have!”

14. On the back of this page, add 109.34, 1984 and 8965.

15. Put a circle around your answer, then a square.

16. Count from on to ten backward in a normal speaking voice.

17. Punch three small holes in the top of this page with your pencil point.

18. If you are the first person to get this far, call out, “I am number one!”

19. Write the numbers from 1 to 10 on the line. Underline all even numbers.

20. Say aloud, “I am almost finished.”

21. Now that you have finished reading carefully, do only sentences 1 and 2.

+++

and see who passes.
JuNii
19-09-2007, 06:15
About half the people I know still can't seem to tell east, west, north or south. I'm totally scatterbrained and can't remember what day of the week it is, but I still know- Tulsa is east, Okc is west, Texas is south and Kansas is north. Why is that so hard?

Some typical instructions here...

"Head Mauka until the road forkes, then go Ewa until you get to Redding St. then turn Makai and the house would be on the DiamondHead side of the road."
Cannot think of a name
19-09-2007, 06:19
the problem might be retention and not direction following. I suggest the following test should be given to your students. and anyone here can take it also.

What you will need:
1 Sheet of paper
1 Pencil or Black or Blue ink pen

Time limit: 10 minutes.

+++

Reading Test
Follow each direction below.

1. Read everything before doing anything.

2. Put your name in the upper right hand corner.

3. Circle the word “name” in sentence 12.

4. Write the date in all capital letters in the upper left corner of this page.

5. Draw five small squares under your name.

6. Put an X in each square you drew.

7. Put a circle around each square.

8. Put a circle around all of sentence 7.

9. Put an X under your last name.

10. On the back of this paper multiply 733 by 419

11. Draw a rectangle around the larger of the two numbers in sentence 10.

12. Loudly call out your first name when you read this so your teacher can see who got this far.

13. If you think you have followed directions carefully up to this point, call out, “I have!”

14. On the back of this page, add 109.34, 1984 and 8965.

15. Put a circle around your answer, then a square.

16. Count from on to ten backward in a normal speaking voice.

17. Punch three small holes in the top of this page with your pencil point.

18. If you are the first person to get this far, call out, “I am number one!”

19. Write the numbers from 1 to 10 on the line. Underline all even numbers.

20. Say aloud, “I am almost finished.”

21. Now that you have finished reading carefully, do only sentences 1 and 2.

+++

and see who passes.

I passed that test in fifth grade not by following directions, but by reading in the wrong order.
Nobel Hobos
19-09-2007, 08:21
the problem might be retention and not direction following. I suggest the following test should be given to your students. and anyone here can take it also.

*snip test*

and see who passes.

Sorry: I aced that. Skipping to the end is a little trick I picked up at this place called NSG. Plus, not bothering with the paper until I had followed direction 1 ...

Hey, hang on. I failed, right ? I skipped the paper.

Uh, but did I fail? Having paper wasn't a direction! And my name is already in the top right hand corner ...