Common patterns among people with lower literacy when using websites:
•reading every single word instead of scanning
•ignoring information on right or left side
•avoiding dense blocks of text
•link surfing
•satisficing quickly
#PlainLanguageSummit
•reading every single word instead of scanning
•ignoring information on right or left side
•avoiding dense blocks of text
•link surfing
•satisficing quickly
#PlainLanguageSummit
November 9, 2024 at 3:35 PM
Common patterns among people with lower literacy when using websites:
•reading every single word instead of scanning
•ignoring information on right or left side
•avoiding dense blocks of text
•link surfing
•satisficing quickly
#PlainLanguageSummit
•reading every single word instead of scanning
•ignoring information on right or left side
•avoiding dense blocks of text
•link surfing
•satisficing quickly
#PlainLanguageSummit
Stepping away from #PlainLanguageSummit now and will miss the last couple of sessions. Thank you to @katherinespivey, @krsprof & the rest of the @govplainlang team for a great conference!
November 10, 2024 at 3:28 AM
Stepping away from #PlainLanguageSummit now and will miss the last couple of sessions. Thank you to @katherinespivey, @krsprof & the rest of the @govplainlang team for a great conference!
Each Fast Fact gets shown to several cold readers. And if anyone pauses on something, the team knows they have to change it, not explain why the person shouldn't have paused on it. #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 3:22 AM
Each Fast Fact gets shown to several cold readers. And if anyone pauses on something, the team knows they have to change it, not explain why the person shouldn't have paused on it. #PlainLanguageSummit
Results:
•readers spent 70% longer on <a href="http://GAO.gov" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">http://GAO.gov and nearly 700% longer on mobile devices
•40% more report shares
•30% more report downloads #PlainLanguageSummit
•readers spent 70% longer on <a href="http://GAO.gov" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">http://GAO.gov and nearly 700% longer on mobile devices
•40% more report shares
•30% more report downloads #PlainLanguageSummit
U.S. Government Accountability Office (U.S. GAO)
GAO provides fact-based, nonpartisan information to Congr...
GAO.gov
November 10, 2024 at 3:16 AM
Results:
•readers spent 70% longer on <a href="http://GAO.gov" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">http://GAO.gov and nearly 700% longer on mobile devices
•40% more report shares
•30% more report downloads #PlainLanguageSummit
•readers spent 70% longer on <a href="http://GAO.gov" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">http://GAO.gov and nearly 700% longer on mobile devices
•40% more report shares
•30% more report downloads #PlainLanguageSummit
For the pilot:
•Collected Google Analytics data and internal feedback
•Tested Fast Facts with people the agency wanted to read their work #PlainLanguageSummit
•Collected Google Analytics data and internal feedback
•Tested Fast Facts with people the agency wanted to read their work #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 3:09 AM
For the pilot:
•Collected Google Analytics data and internal feedback
•Tested Fast Facts with people the agency wanted to read their work #PlainLanguageSummit
•Collected Google Analytics data and internal feedback
•Tested Fast Facts with people the agency wanted to read their work #PlainLanguageSummit
Developed Fast Facts: 650-character online introductions to GAO reports, designed for mobile first, features engaging visuals. #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 3:02 AM
Developed Fast Facts: 650-character online introductions to GAO reports, designed for mobile first, features engaging visuals. #PlainLanguageSummit
The need came from:
•Digital age » deluge of information, new platforms
•Peer review » auditors were having trouble understanding Highlights on landing page
•Low engagement » data showed that people spent little time on GOA pages #PlainLanguageSummit
•Digital age » deluge of information, new platforms
•Peer review » auditors were having trouble understanding Highlights on landing page
•Low engagement » data showed that people spent little time on GOA pages #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 2:55 AM
The need came from:
•Digital age » deluge of information, new platforms
•Peer review » auditors were having trouble understanding Highlights on landing page
•Low engagement » data showed that people spent little time on GOA pages #PlainLanguageSummit
•Digital age » deluge of information, new platforms
•Peer review » auditors were having trouble understanding Highlights on landing page
•Low engagement » data showed that people spent little time on GOA pages #PlainLanguageSummit
Reports on the GAO blog with plain language summaries/highlights had more engagement and encouraged people to stay on the GAO site longer. In 2016, GAO launched the “Fast Facts” pilot to make those messages even more concise. #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 2:48 AM
Reports on the GAO blog with plain language summaries/highlights had more engagement and encouraged people to stay on the GAO site longer. In 2016, GAO launched the “Fast Facts” pilot to make those messages even more concise. #PlainLanguageSummit
GAO is the oversight arm of Congress. They issue about 700 reports, testimonies, and other publications each year. Important work that helps people understand how the federal gov't can save money or improve. #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 2:42 AM
GAO is the oversight arm of Congress. They issue about 700 reports, testimonies, and other publications each year. Important work that helps people understand how the federal gov't can save money or improve. #PlainLanguageSummit
Next up: "Getting GAO’s Message Across in the Digital Age" with Eden Savino and Melanie Fallow from the Government Accountability Office #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 2:35 AM
Next up: "Getting GAO’s Message Across in the Digital Age" with Eden Savino and Melanie Fallow from the Government Accountability Office #PlainLanguageSummit
Aim: to launch new system in 2024. Want to make sure the public and partners need time to adjust and educate their stakeholders, time to do testing. #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 2:29 AM
Aim: to launch new system in 2024. Want to make sure the public and partners need time to adjust and educate their stakeholders, time to do testing. #PlainLanguageSummit
In the past 6 years or so, NWS has consolidated the number of products/headlines. So instead of both a winter weather advisory and a freezing rain advisory, they are using only a winter weather advisory and putting freezing rain in the body. #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 2:23 AM
In the past 6 years or so, NWS has consolidated the number of products/headlines. So instead of both a winter weather advisory and a freezing rain advisory, they are using only a winter weather advisory and putting freezing rain in the body. #PlainLanguageSummit
Likely will transition both to bulleted list outlining What, Where, When, and Impact for advisories and special weather statements. #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 2:17 AM
Likely will transition both to bulleted list outlining What, Where, When, and Impact for advisories and special weather statements. #PlainLanguageSummit
Instead of "advisory" and "special weather statement," they are using plain language descriptions to tell people what they need to do.
Still considering what these will look like. Should hazard lead the message? Caution? Or no leading term?
#PlainLanguageSummit
Still considering what these will look like. Should hazard lead the message? Caution? Or no leading term?
#PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 2:11 AM
Instead of "advisory" and "special weather statement," they are using plain language descriptions to tell people what they need to do.
Still considering what these will look like. Should hazard lead the message? Caution? Or no leading term?
#PlainLanguageSummit
Still considering what these will look like. Should hazard lead the message? Caution? Or no leading term?
#PlainLanguageSummit
Major change: keeping “watch” and “warning.
•Watch: What should I do? Prepare!
•Warning: What should I do? Take action! #PlainLanguageSummit
•Watch: What should I do? Prepare!
•Warning: What should I do? Take action! #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 2:04 AM
Major change: keeping “watch” and “warning.
•Watch: What should I do? Prepare!
•Warning: What should I do? Take action! #PlainLanguageSummit
•Watch: What should I do? Prepare!
•Warning: What should I do? Take action! #PlainLanguageSummit
Not intuitive for people to know which is worse: warning or advisory. Instead, just describing the hazard and impact in plain language is easier to understand. #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 1:57 AM
Not intuitive for people to know which is worse: warning or advisory. Instead, just describing the hazard and impact in plain language is easier to understand. #PlainLanguageSummit
•2018: public surveys found “advisory is least understood and conflated with “watch”
•2020: partner webinars, surveys, and focus groups found public participants supporting eliminating “advisory” #PlainLanguageSummit
•2020: partner webinars, surveys, and focus groups found public participants supporting eliminating “advisory” #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 1:51 AM
•2018: public surveys found “advisory is least understood and conflated with “watch”
•2020: partner webinars, surveys, and focus groups found public participants supporting eliminating “advisory” #PlainLanguageSummit
•2020: partner webinars, surveys, and focus groups found public participants supporting eliminating “advisory” #PlainLanguageSummit
•2017: Institutionalization survey found “warning” headline is more embedded in current law and policy; “advisory” is least embedded, and most organizations could adjust #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 1:44 AM
•2017: Institutionalization survey found “warning” headline is more embedded in current law and policy; “advisory” is least embedded, and most organizations could adjust #PlainLanguageSummit
•2015: case study survey and 3-day workshop found that they should simplify alerting system, focusing on impacts. Embrace formatting like bullets and easier-to-understand language #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 1:38 AM
•2015: case study survey and 3-day workshop found that they should simplify alerting system, focusing on impacts. Embrace formatting like bullets and easier-to-understand language #PlainLanguageSummit
Road to simplification:
•2014: focus groups found people want change. There are too many NWS headlines, and “advisory” is least understood #PlainLanguageSummit
•2014: focus groups found people want change. There are too many NWS headlines, and “advisory” is least understood #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 1:32 AM
Road to simplification:
•2014: focus groups found people want change. There are too many NWS headlines, and “advisory” is least understood #PlainLanguageSummit
•2014: focus groups found people want change. There are too many NWS headlines, and “advisory” is least understood #PlainLanguageSummit
•Advisory: issued when an event less serious than a warning is happening or about to happen
•Special weather statement: issued when an event less serious or shorter than an advisory is happening or about to happen. #PlainLanguageSummit
•Special weather statement: issued when an event less serious or shorter than an advisory is happening or about to happen. #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 1:26 AM
•Advisory: issued when an event less serious than a warning is happening or about to happen
•Special weather statement: issued when an event less serious or shorter than an advisory is happening or about to happen. #PlainLanguageSummit
•Special weather statement: issued when an event less serious or shorter than an advisory is happening or about to happen. #PlainLanguageSummit
•Watch: issued when a life- or property-threatening event is possible but not yet certain
•Warning: issued when a life- or property-threatning event is happening or about to happen #PlainLanguageSummit
•Warning: issued when a life- or property-threatning event is happening or about to happen #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 1:20 AM
•Watch: issued when a life- or property-threatening event is possible but not yet certain
•Warning: issued when a life- or property-threatning event is happening or about to happen #PlainLanguageSummit
•Warning: issued when a life- or property-threatning event is happening or about to happen #PlainLanguageSummit
About the National Weather Service's efforts to simplify the "watch, warning, advisory" system. #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 1:14 AM
About the National Weather Service's efforts to simplify the "watch, warning, advisory" system. #PlainLanguageSummit
Next up: "Hazard Simplification: The Transition to Plain Language" with Danielle Nagele from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 1:08 AM
Next up: "Hazard Simplification: The Transition to Plain Language" with Danielle Nagele from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) #PlainLanguageSummit
How to handle senior leaders who insist on a legal review?
Kohler worked w/ many levels of leadership to tell them why using subject matter experts & legal reviewers doesn't work for users. Added legal disclaimer, invited everyone to give feedback on terms. #PlainLanguageSummit
Kohler worked w/ many levels of leadership to tell them why using subject matter experts & legal reviewers doesn't work for users. Added legal disclaimer, invited everyone to give feedback on terms. #PlainLanguageSummit
November 10, 2024 at 1:01 AM
How to handle senior leaders who insist on a legal review?
Kohler worked w/ many levels of leadership to tell them why using subject matter experts & legal reviewers doesn't work for users. Added legal disclaimer, invited everyone to give feedback on terms. #PlainLanguageSummit
Kohler worked w/ many levels of leadership to tell them why using subject matter experts & legal reviewers doesn't work for users. Added legal disclaimer, invited everyone to give feedback on terms. #PlainLanguageSummit