Year
2006
Abstract
As part of its mandate, the Canadian Safeguards Support Program (CSSP) is responsible for providing documentation and training assistance to the IAEA. These “knowledge transfer” activities often follow the introduction or enhancement of safeguards equipment and procedures. From timeto- time, an ad-hoc request or sudden procedure change requires the rapid production of new materials. In this paper, we describe some of the lesser-known tools we use to rapidly produce highquality training documents. Many safeguards systems are software-based. Measurement and surveillance instruments are controlled by software programs or have data collected from them by software that runs on commercially available hardware. Preparing comprehensive and easy-to-follow training and documentation materials for these systems is a challenge. In two previous papers presented at INMM Annual Meetings, we advocated “guerilla knowledge gathering” and “guerilla knowledge sharing” – using low-cost, low-tech methods to gather and share valuable corporate data. We now focus on “guerilla production” – using simple, low-cost tools and techniques to produce documentation and training packages. We also describe how to set up a stable and repeatable test environment for running new safeguards software. Although many of these tools and techniques are used by professional writers and producers, anyone who is ever called upon to make a PowerPoint presentation will find tips that will make their next presentation stand out. The tools are easier to use than email, and are of value to anyone doing software documentation for any purpose. Before-and-after examples of simple changes show how to make training materials more informative and lively. A series of “rules of thumb” will help you decide when (or if) to use different types of graphic enhancement – recognizing that the objective is greater reader engagement and better retention of the material.