Transcript Task Decomposition of Cooking Dinner by Ken Robinson

Task Decomposition of
Cooking Dinner
Frito Pie with Green Beans
by Ken Robinson
PSYC 645 – Due Feb. 7
Making Dinner
1.
5.
2.
4.
3.
Main Page
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Back to
Hierarchy
Go To
Top Level
1
1. Gather
Ingredients
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2
2. Prep Work
2.1
2.1.1.
2.2.
2.1.2.
2.2.1
2.1.2.1.
2.1.2.2.
2.1.2.3.
2.1.2.4.
2.2.2
2.2.3.
Go To
Top Level
3. Frito Pie
Itself
3.1
3.2
3.3
3
3.4
3.5
3.3.6
3.3.1
3.3.5
3.3.2
3.3.3
3.3.4
Go To
Top Level
4
4. Green Beans
4.1
4.6
4.5
4.2
4.3
4.4
Go To
Top Level
5. Complete
and Serve
5.1.
5.1.1
5.1.2
5
5.2.
5.1.3
5.2.1
5.2.2
5.2.3
1.
Take out ingredients
TASK ELEMENT
 1. Gather from pantry and refrigerator:
Fritos corn chips, Onion, Sharp cheddar
cheese block, 1 can of chili, 1 can of green
beans
PURPOSE
 Get ingredients out and ready before starting
preparation of meal
CUE
 Initial decision to eat, including hunger or
just dinner time.
ACTION
 Remove refrigerated goods from refrigerator,
and canned goods and chips from pantry.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
•
You will visually observe a bag of chips, an
onion, cheese, can of chili, and can of green
beans lying on the counter.
LIKELY ERRORS
•
Forgot to buy chips.
•
Forgot to buy onion.
•
Forgot to buy cheese.
•
Forgot to buy chili.
•
Forgot to buy green beans.
2. Preparation work
Back to
Hierarchy
TASK ELEMENT
2. Prepare onion and cheese.
FEEDBACK
Items are cut in the correct proportions.
PURPOSE
These items must be put into a format where they
can later be used to make Frito Pie.
LIKELY ERRORS
See subgoals..
CUE
You will see onion and cheese laying on the
counter.
ACTION
Cut up onion and grate the cheese.
Back to
Hierarchy
3. Frito Pie Itself
TASK ELEMENT
3. Prepare and cook Frito Pie.
PURPOSE
Get dish from uncooked ingredients to fully put
together and cooking.
CUE
Fritos bag, ½ cup minced onions, 1 cup grated
cheese, can of chili ready on counter.
ACTION
Follow subgoals to achieve main goal.
FEEDBACK
Frito Pie put together and in oven.
LIKELY ERRORS
See subgoals..
4.
Prepare Green Beans
TASK ELEMENT
4. Prepare green beans.
PURPOSE
Must heat up and salt green beans before eating.
CUE
Can of green beans on counter.
ACTION
Follow subgoals to achieve main goal.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Green beans are ready to put on plate.
LIKELY ERRORS
See subgoals.
5.
Complete and Serve
TASK ELEMENT
5. Finish up and serve dinner.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Food is hot on plate. No heat coming from kitchen
devices.
PURPOSE
Safely turn off devices and serve hot food.
CUE
Green beans and Frito Pie finished cooking.
ACTION
Follow subgoals until devices off and dinner
served.
LIKELY ERRORS
Post-completion errors may cause devices not to be
turned off properly.
2.1. Prepare onion
TASK ELEMENT
2.1. Get onion ready for use in Frito Pie.
FEEDBACK
Cutting completed so that onion is minced
enough to fill ½ measuring cup.
PURPOSE
Onion needs to be cut up into several small pieces
in order to be useable in Frito Pie.
CUE
Onion is sitting on the table, not yet cut.
ACTION
See subgoals.
Back to
Hierarchy
LIKELY ERRORS
See subgoals..
2.1.1. Get cutting materials
TASK ELEMENT
2.1.1. Get out cutting board and sharp knife.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
You can now see cutting board with knife on top,
on counter space.
PURPOSE
These materials needed in order to properly mince
the onion.
CUE
You see onion waiting to be cut.
ACTION
Look in shelves and drawer for cutting board and
sharp knife. If found, place cutting board on
counter with knife on top.
LIKELY ERRORS
Did not actually find cutting board, but another
object that will not protect against cutting up
the kitchen counter.
Knife found is dull and cannot be used for this.
Knife found is too big and unwieldy for use on
onion.
2.1.2 Onion mincing
TASK ELEMENT
2.1.2. Cut onion until enough has been minced to
fill ½ cup
PURPOSE
To get onion from natural to prepared state
CUE
Onion, cutting board, and knife laying on counter.
ACTION
Follow subgoals to mince onion.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Pungent odor. Onion in small pieces in ½
measuring cup.
LIKELY ERRORS
See subgoals..
2.1.2.1. Peel off onion skin
TASK ELEMENT
2.1.2.1. Peel off skin before cutting
PURPOSE
The outer covering needs to be removed because it
is not used in the recipe.
CUE
Onion still has papery skin on it.
ACTION
Peel off papery outside covering from onion.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Skin lying on side. Layers of fresh smooth onion
exposed.
LIKELY ERRORS
Much of onion is peeled off along with skin
accidentally.
2.1.2.2. Initial chopping
TASK ELEMENT
2.1.2.2. Chopping of large pieces of onion.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Onion successfully on cutting board in halves.
Stem to the side.
PURPOSE
Get onion to state where further mincing action
can take place.
CUE
Onion on cutting board with skin removed already.
ACTION
Cut onion in half through the root and shop off the
stem at the top.
LIKELY ERRORS
Watch your fingers. Thumbs may get in the way.
May cut too far to one side.
May cut root instead of stem.
2.1.2.3. Complete onion
chopping
TASK ELEMENT
2.1.2.3. Complete mincing process.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Onion is in tiny pieces.
Strong odor – eyes tearing up.
PURPOSE
Complete readiness of onion for Frito Pie.
CUE
2 Onion halves lying on counter with stem to side.
ACTION
Take one onion half, and make several lengthwise
parallel cuts 1/8 inch between each slice; then
further chop each slice by cutting horizontally
toward center until onion is in tiny pieces.
LIKELY ERRORS
Onion not chopped up enough.
Onion falls apart quickly so that eyes water up
more quickly. Must go on anyway.
Slice finger also and require first aid before
continuing.
2.1.2.4. Fill measuring cup
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Hierarchy
TASK ELEMENT
2.1.2.4. Fill up ½ measuring cup with the minced
onions.
FEEDBACK
½ cup is filled to the rim with onion pieces.
PURPOSE
Need enough onions for Frito Pie.
LIKELY ERRORS
Not enough onion pieces.
Some onion pieces spill on floor.
CUE
Lots of minced onion on cutting board.
ACTION
Take out ½ cup measuring device and fill with
onions. If onions do not fill cup, repeat goal
2.1.2.3 until there are enough. 2.1.2.3
2.2. Prepare cheese
TASK ELEMENT
2.2. Get cheese sliced and measured.
FEEDBACK
Enough cheese grated to fill 1 measuring cup.
PURPOSE
Need 1 cup of grated cheese for Frito Pie.
CUE
Cheese in solid block lying on counter.
ACTION
See subgoals.
Back to
Hierarchy
LIKELY ERRORS
See subgoals..
2.2.1. Set up for grating.
TASK ELEMENT
2.2.1. Get cheese grater out with plate.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
You see cheese grater and plate next to package
of cheese.
PURPOSE
Prepare materials for grating of cheese.
CUE
Cheese still in a block on counter with no grater in
sight.
ACTION
Take out cheese grater from drawer and plate from
cabinet.
LIKELY ERRORS
Cheese grater cannot be found.
Get a little too excited and drop plate on floor.
2.2.2. Grating of cheese
TASK ELEMENT
Actual grating of cheese.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
You see a lot of sliced cheese lying on the plate.
PURPOSE
Slice cheese for use in main dish.
CUE
Cheese block on counter next to grater and plate.
ACTION
Open cheese package and run cheese along grater
until it falls into the plate.
LIKELY ERRORS
Grater can be sharp – cut finger again.
Cheese slips out of hands and onto the floor.
2.2.3. Fill measuring cup
TASK ELEMENT
Fill up1 measuring cup with the grated cheese.
PURPOSE
Need enough cheese for Frito Pie.
CUE
Lots of grated cheese on a plate.
ACTION
Take out a cup measuring device and fill with
cheese. If cheese slices do not fill cup, repeat
goal 2.2.2. until there are enough. 2.2.2.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
½ cup is filled to the rim with onion pieces.
LIKELY ERRORS
Not enough onion pieces.
Some onion pieces spill on floor.
3.1. Get baking dish
TASK ELEMENT
3.1. Get baking dish ready for ingredients.
PURPOSE
Need container for Frito Pie ingredients.
CUE
Ingredients sitting on counter with nothing to put
them in.
ACTION
Look in cabinet to find rectangular baking dish
about 3 inches deep at least.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
You will have proper baking dish on counter.
LIKELY ERRORS
Wrong size dish will not hold all stacked up
ingredients.
3.2. Preheat oven
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Hierarchy
TASK ELEMENT
3.1. Preheat oven.
ACTION
Turn oven dial until the marking “350” lines up
with top line marker.
PURPOSE
Need to heat oven before inserting dish.
FEEDBACK
Red light on oven will turn on.
Dial turned to “350.”
CUE
Oven controls visible and not blocked from view.
CONTROLS
Should be a dial with numbers on it from 0 to
around 500 labeled oven.
LIKELY ERRORS
Turn on stove instead. Make sure it is the oven.
Dial not lined up properly.
3.3. Layer ingredients
TASK ELEMENT
3.3. Layer all ingredients for Frito Pie.
PURPOSE
Need to assemble ingredients before baking.
CUE
Baking dish and ingredients on counter. Red oven
light indicates preheating.
ACTION
See subgoals.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Frito Pie will be layered and ready to bake.
LIKELY ERRORS
See subgoals.
3.3.1. Open can of chili
TASK ELEMENT
3.3.1. Open can of chili.
PURPOSE
Must open chili before using
CUE
Chili can and can opener both visible.
ACTION
Use can opener to open chili can and remove lid.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Lid will be completely removed from chili can.
LIKELY ERRORS
Cut finger.
Lid not completely separated from can.
3.3.2. Get Fritos – First Layer
TASK ELEMENT
3.3.2. Get first layer of Fritos
PURPOSE
Need to put Fritos on bottom of dish first.
CUE
Bag of Fritos and empty baking dish on counter.
ACTION
Open bag and use 1 cup measuring device to
scoop out 2 cups of Fritos and layer at bottom
of the pan.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Fritos cover bottom of baking dish.
LIKELY ERRORS
Fritos should be cover bottom, not be bunched
up.
3.3.3. Onions and Cheese –
First Layer
TASK ELEMENT
3.3.3. First layer of onions and cheese.
PURPOSE
Need to get some onions and cheese on top of
Fritos.
CUE
Dish with only one layer of Fritos only at bottom
of dish.
ACTION
Sprinkle half the onions and half the cheese over
the layer of Fritos.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
You will see inside baking dish, a layer of Fritos
covered by some onions and cheese.
LIKELY ERRORS
Accidentally sprinkle too much onions or cheese.
3.3.4. Pour chili
TASK ELEMENT
3.3.4. Pour can of chili.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
You should see chili covering the previous
ingredients.
PURPOSE
Time to put chili in the mix.
CUE
Open can of chili on the counter.
ACTION
Pour entire contents of chili in one layer over into
the dish, spread out across the dish. Use
spoon for help if necessary.
LIKELY ERRORS
Spill chili.
Trouble getting chili to pour evenly.
3.3.5. Get Fritos – Second
Layer
TASK ELEMENT
3.3.5. Get second layer of Fritos.
PURPOSE
Need rest of the Fritos.
CUE
Bag of Fritos and partially full baking dish with
chili poured on top.
ACTION
Open bag and use 1 cup measuring device to
scoop out 1 cup of Fritos in an even layer
over the chili.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
You will see a layer of Fritos covering the chili.
LIKELY ERRORS
Too many Fritos spill into dish or on floor. Use
care during measurement.
3.3.6. Onions and Cheese –
Second Layer
TASK ELEMENT
3.3.6. Second layer of onions and cheese.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
You will see a baking dish almost full, with
onions and cheese layered over Fritos and
chili.
PURPOSE
Need to put more onions and cheese on top of
Fritos.
CUE
Dish with Fritos on top of chili and other
ingredients.
ACTION
Sprinkle the remaining onions and cheese
uniformly over the layer of Fritos.
LIKELY ERRORS
Spill ingredients.
Onions stick to measuring cup.
Not spread in uniform layer.
3.4. Bake
TASK ELEMENT
3.4. Bake dish in oven.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
You will see baking dish inside oven being
heated.
PURPOSE
Dish must now be cooked before eating.
CUE
Dish is full of ingredients and oven is preheated to
350 degrees Fahrenheit.
ACTION
Using potholder, open oven, insert dish, and close
oven.
LIKELY ERRORS
Could burn oneself if potholder is not used
properly.
Make sure oven has been preheated. Otherwise
see step 3.2.
3.5. Set timer.
TASK ELEMENT
3.5. Set oven timer or other countdown timer.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
You will see the timer set at 15 counting down,
and may hear ticking noise on some timers.
PURPOSE
Must know how long to bake.
CUE
Dish is already in oven as per step 3.4.
CONTROLS
Should be a start and stop button or a dial to set.
ACTION
Turn oven timer dial to 15 minutes, or otherwise
set timer to count down from 15 minutes.
LIKELY ERRORS
Timer has not started. Listen or watch for
countdown.
Batteries may be dead on a standalone timer.
4.1. Get saucepan
TASK ELEMENT
4.1. Get saucepan for use.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Should have small saucepan sitting on counter.
PURPOSE
Need small dish with which to heat green beans.
CUE
Closed can of green beans on counter. Frito pie
already baking.
ACTION
Look in pantry for a 1-quart small saucepan that
will hold one can of green beans.
LIKELY ERRORS
Saucepan is overly large for small contents.
4.2. Open can
TASK ELEMENT
4.2. Open can of green beans.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Open can of green beans with lid on the side.
PURPOSE
Must open green beans before cooking.
CUE
Closed can of green beans on counter.
ACTION
Use can opener to cut off lid. Make sure entire lid
is removed.
LIKELY ERRORS
Cut finger on sharp metal.
Entire lid is not removed so green beans are not
fully exposed.
4.3. Pour in green beans
TASK ELEMENT
4.3. Pour in green beans and water.
FEEDBACK
Saucepan with water covering top of green beans
contents.
PURPOSE
Preparation for heating.
CUE
Open can of green beans and saucepan on the
counter.
ACTION
Dump entire contents into saucepan and fill with
water until green beans are entirely
submerged.
Back to
Hierarchy
LIKELY ERRORS
Spill water or green beans.
4.4. Salt
TASK ELEMENT
4.4. Salt the green beans.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Green beans, water, and salt now mixed in
saucepan.
PURPOSE
Tastes better heated with salt.
CUE
Green beans already in saucepan covered by
water.
ACTION
Sprinkle salt into saucepan containing green beans
and stir with stirring spoon.
LIKELY ERRORS
Be careful to not dump large quantities of salt
into green beans.
4.5. Stove on
TASK ELEMENT
4.5. Turn on stove to medium setting.
PURPOSE
Must heat vegetables.
CUE
Green beans already in saucepan covered by water
seasoned with salt.
CONTROLS
Control for burner to be used should be a dial with
a mapped indicator showing which burner to
turn on.
ACTION
Turn dial on burner you wish to use to the medium
setting.
Back to
Hierarchy
DISPLAY
Dial on correct burner should be lined up as
“medium” with the indicator line.
FEEDBACK
Dial is in correct position. Corresponding
burner getting hot.
LIKELY ERRORS
MAKE CERTAIN IT IS THE RIGHT BURNER
Unfortunately, most stoves are not mapped in an
intuitive manner. Triple check which burner
you turned on.
4.6. Place saucepan
TASK ELEMENT
4.6. Set saucepan on correct burner
PURPOSE
Heat green beans.
CUE
Control dial on stove should be set to medium and
corresponding burner getting hot.
CONTROLS
Control for burner to be used should be a dial with
a mapped indicator showing which burner to
turn on.
ACTION
Set saucepan on correct burner.
Back to
Hierarchy
DISPLAY
Dial on correct burner should be lined up as
“medium” with the indicator line.
FEEDBACK
Saucepan on correct burner and green beans and
water beginning to warm up.
LIKELY ERRORS
Could easily map to different burner.
Touching the burner with your finger will burn
you.
5.1. Check and serve Frito Pie
TASK ELEMENT
5.1. Check and serve the Frito Pie.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Frito Pie is hot, cheese is bubbly.
PURPOSE
Make sure Frito Pie cooked, then serve.
ACTION
See subgoals for details.
LIKELY ERRORS
Could take out too soon and it would be cold.
5.2. Check and serve green
beans
TASK ELEMENT
5.2. Check and serve the green beans.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Taste a few green beans.
PURPOSE
Make sure green beans are warm, then serve.
ACTION
See subgoals for details.
LIKELY ERRORS
Could take out too soon and it would be cold.
5.1.1. Turn off oven.
TASK ELEMENT
5.1.1. Turn off the oven.
PURPOSE
Do not leave appliances on for safety reasons.
CUE
Make sure timer has run down to zero before
proceeding with this step. Otherwise wait.
CONTROLS
Should be a dial on oven with numbers on it from
0 to around 500 labeled.
ACTION
Turn oven dial until it is set at zero and the red
light is off.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Oven heat dial turned so that zero is lined up with
indicator.
LIKELY ERRORS
Could turn incorrect dial.
Timer might have not worked properly or is still
running.
5.1.2. Take out dish.
TASK ELEMENT
5.1.2. Take out the Frito Pie.
PURPOSE
Must take out of oven before serving.
CUE
Timer has run down and oven is off.
CONTROLS
Should be a dial on oven with numbers on it from
0 to around 500 labeled set on zero.
ACTION
Use potholder to carefully take Frito Pie dish out
of oven and place on a cold burner on the
stove.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Cheese will be bubbly. Dish now safely on cool
surface where it may be served.
LIKELY ERRORS
Oven not off. See step 5.1.1.
Not cooked because of prior missed step.
Could burn hand if potholders not used or if they
slip and you accidentally touch the hot metal
dish.
5.2.1. Stove off
TASK ELEMENT
5.2.1. Turn off stove.
PURPOSE
Safety requires turning off appliances.
CUE
Heated green beans already in saucepan covered
by water seasoned with salt. Taste green
beans with fork to see if they are properly
heated yet.
CONTROLS
Control for burner to be used should be a dial with
a mapped indicator showing which burner to
turn on or off.
ACTION
Turn dial on corresponding burner to the off
setting.
Back to
Hierarchy
DISPLAY
Dial on correct burner should be lined up as “off”
with the indicator line.
FEEDBACK
Dial is in correct position. Corresponding
burner is getting cooler.
LIKELY ERRORS
Again if it is not the right burner you may burn
yourself.
Unfortunately, most stoves are not mapped in an
intuitive manner. Triple check which burner
you turned off.
5.2.2. Drain water
TASK ELEMENT
5.2.2. Drain water from green beans.
PURPOSE
You want your green beans relatively dry, not
drowning in water anymore.
CUE
Green beans are heated and stove turned off as per
5.2.1
ACTION
Using a fork to hold back the green beans from
spilling, empty water from saucepan into
sink.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Water will pour out of pan leaving just the green
beans left.
LIKELY ERRORS
Getting too close to the hot water could burn
your skin.
Could spill green beans when emptying water.
5.2.3. Serve green beans
TASK ELEMENT
5.2.3. Serve green beans.
PURPOSE
Must put on plate to eat.
CUE
Water is drained from green beans saucepan.
ACTION
Grab large spoon and serve hearty helping of
green vegetables on plate.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Green beans on plate.
LIKELY ERRORS
Good things come to those who are patient. If
one is too excited to eat, he or she may spill
food and have to repeat sub-goal 4.
5.1.3. Serve Frito Pie
TASK ELEMENT
5.2.3. Serve Frito Pie.
PURPOSE
Put Frito Pie on plate for eating.
CUE
Dish is on cold stove burner ready to be served
and oven has been turned off.
ACTION
Grab large spoon and serve hearty helping of Frito
Pie on plate.
Back to
Hierarchy
FEEDBACK
Hot Frito Pie on plate.
LIKELY ERRORS
Good things come to those who are patient. If
one is too excited to eat, he or she may spill
food and have to repeat sub-goal 3.