Reading Directions and Following Instructions Can Point the Way to Success

What is it that makes a person not want to follow directions? Are we in the midst of an epidemic of not reading instructions?
Have you ever been shopping and returned home with your new purchase – so excited that you just couldn’t wait to rip open those boxes and start putting the legs on the little accent table or screwing together a new shelf for your bathroom, only to realize you have put it together all wrong?
Your anxiousness caused you to skip one very important step – reading the directions first!
Teachers Try to Teach Kids to Read Directions
I know that in elementary school, teachers try to teach kids the importance of reading instructions and learning to complete a process by following the steps. For instance, did you ever take that little tricky test that says at the top to be sure to read all of the directions before you begin, and then at the very bottom of the page (after you’ve answered all of the questions) it says, “Do not do anything except put your name at the top of the page”?
I’m still at it today. I keep trying to impress upon my online college students how important it is to read assignment instructions carefully. I suggest that they analyze the overall assignment, make a list of the multiple tasks required and then go through and complete each part one by one, checking each one off the list. But alas, I believe many of them are part of this growing epidemic.
What Makes Us Not Want to Read Directions First?
What is this phenomenon? Are we in too big a hurry to take five minutes to read directions before we begin a project? Is it because we are so smart we are sure we can do everything by jumping in with both feet? I am perplexed and I wish I could find a solution. If you have any advice or even a story about how not reading directions got the best of you, please share it.
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Tags: Accredited Online Colleges, Following Instructions, Online Degrees, Reading Directions
Sandy Davis is a long-time educator who holds a Masters Degree in Education and currently teaches Online Communication Courses on the college level.


