Re: [tdf-discuss] UI proposal

2010/10/29 Marc Paré <marc@marcpare.com>:
> Le 2010-10-28 17:45, RGB ES a écrit :
> > The only reason to see tab stops and other formatting codes is if you
> > need to *interact* with them: if you have a good set of paragraph
> > styles the ability to "see" tab stops and other formatting codes is
> > useless. So, all the concepts presented in this thread seems to be
> > geared towards direct formatting.
> > If that's the case, I'm against it.
> > While direct formatting *seems* to be good on two page school reports,
> > it is a nightmare when you need to create complex and well structured
> > documents.
> > Writer have a good tradition of tools that helps the build of complex
> > documents (styles, styles and more styles!).
> > What I would like to see instead of more direct formatting tools, is a
> > redesign of the way styles are defined to easy the learning curve of
> > new users.
> > Relying on styles is Writer's trademark. I think we need to give even
> > more power to this trademark instead of going the route of MSWord.
> > Just my 2 ¢
>
> Yes, but from an instructional point of view in the classroom, the treatment
> of tabs in this manner would be welcomed. It would clearly illustrate the
> use of tabs to the majority of students who find it confusing.
>
> Marc

If you only teach your students to use direct formatting, they will
only use direct formatting afterwards: If you want to teach them how
to properly use Writer, you need to teach them the correct use of
styles since the beginning. I know, it is not easy, but it is more
difficult to correct bad habits afterwards...
BTW, tabs inside paragraph styles makes a lot more sense than tabs as
formatting characters: when you know your paragraph style have, say,
two tab stops at this and that position, it is not a surprise if the
cursor jump "there" when you hit the tab key... after all, *you* set
that position. But tab stops as direct formatting are IMO more
difficult to explain because the same key will behave differently
depending on where the cursor is: maybe the confusion comes from
there.
After all, *tab stops as direct formatting must be avoided on properly
formatted documents* so why to spend time showing that problematic
use? Because of "didactics"?
I admit I'd never teach sorftware to a classroom (even if I maintain
several guides and a book about Writer on Spanish), but I have more
than 15 year of experience teaching physics and mathematics to all
levels, from kids to university students, and my experience is that
explaining difficult concepts "the easy way" with flashing "didactic
resources" is always a bad practice: going "to the point" is more
difficult, to the teacher non less than to the students, but it always
gives better results on the long run.

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