Ask the right question first
A client says, "We need better Wi-Fi." You search for "better Wi-Fi" and get ten million pages.
Most are not about your client at all. A good search starts with a clear question.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Requirement | something the job must do or deliver | Wi-Fi in every room of a two floor office |
| Parameter | a limit that shapes the question | a budget of 500 pounds, or a finish date |
| Appropriate | right for this job, this size and this person | |
| Reliable | you can trust it to be right | |
| Valid | it is right for your question and your system | |
| Bias | an unfair lean towards one side |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can turn a job into a clear question, pick up to three sources and check each one.
Starter
Have a go
Starter
3 questionsHave a go: your answers are marked here and then forgotten. Sign in if you would like your score kept, and to pick up where you left off.Sign in to keep your score
Your answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Worked example: a small office
| Step | What the learner does |
|---|---|
| 1. Requirement | Wi-Fi in all 6 rooms, 12 staff, budget 600 pounds, finished in 2 weeks |
| 2. Three sources | The access point maker's handbook, a trade review blog, a colleague who fitted one last year |
| 3. Reliable and valid | Handbook: right model, this year. Blog: named author, 3 years old. Colleague: first hand, same size of office |
| 4. Bias | Handbook: the maker sells it. Blog: has an advert for the same brand. Colleague: none |
| 5. Appropriate | Use the handbook for settings, the colleague for real advice, the blog only to compare |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check
Have a go
Check
4 questionsHave a go: your answers are marked here and then forgotten. Sign in if you would like your score kept, and to pick up where you left off.Sign in to keep your score
Your answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.