Pictorial control descriptions

[Denise]

I see in the lastest edition of Score (SOA newletter) that all courses at Tay 2009 and future SOLs (regional level events) will use pictorial descriptions; and that coaches and planners are encouraged to use pictorial descriptions for all courses at all events. Is this just an SOA idea, or is it happening across the UK?
I'm worried that it might just be one more thing to put off beginners.
What does everyone else think?

[RJ]

There is a consensus that pictorial descriptions are more intuitive than written english ones. They match fairly well the map symbols, and can be more concise than long wordy descriptions.

Whichever system is used there is still a learning process. Perhaps the pictorials are more easily understood.

[mxhornet]

I'm perhaps not the best person to answer having finally competed at a orienteering event on Sunday, at registration we received a written description with a pictoral reverse but the map itself had pictoral descriptions only. However as a newbie I had to keep both in my hand as a guide as the symbols were new to me.

The event in question was Norfolk OC's event at Lynford.

[Tatty]

Many years ago I was asked about pictorial descriptions by the parent of a dyslexic child. She could understand the symbols, but not read the English. She went on to be a very successful junior, but I believe that her paresnts would translate the descriptions into symbols for her. As remarked previously, if you have to learn one set anyway wouldn't it be better that they were pictorial. Equally they then don't have to learn another set later on

[DJM]

This year's JK Sprint and the Croeso series also made policy decisions not to supply written descriptions for the most junior courses and I believe that the SOA decision followed the example of these events. Post event feedback (and both had subsequent online surveys) showed that juniors were not affected by this. Another advantage is that juniors from overseas did not have to struggle with a foreign language!

So, what is there about pictorial descriptions that might "put off beginners". At first sight there are 70 different feature symbols to learn, not to mention the appearance, size and location symbols, and it all seems a bit too much. However, since the vast majority of control sites on TD1 and TD2 courses are path junctions/intersections, with the occasional stream or fence, the number of symbols to be learned by beginners is actually very small. And all are identical to the ISOM symbol on the map as well.

The JK programme this year listed all the symbols to be used for the JK Sprint TD2 course and this provided another opportunity for junior competitors to be confident about the control descriptions on their course.

[seabird]

We've operated a policy for some time of only pictorial symbols on the map, but loose written descriptions and pictorial descriptions available for the TD1-3 courses.

A board at the Information Point, where newcomers will go, describing what the pictorials indicate is also a considerable assistance.

[NFKleanne]

I too was at the NOR Lynford event and somehow managed to loose my written control description. I managed ok using the pictorial descriptions, I had to work some controls out from the out features at the control point on the map (I confused fence and cliff - not that there are many of the latter in Norfolk).

I think it would completely confuse a newbie, but providing both systems would aid the learning process.

There are loads of websites (but I can't work out how to put a links on this message)

[andy]

teach them young

and it's much more fun interpreting symbols than reading things!

there is a very good 'how to read pictorial descriptions' credit card sized leaflet produced (I think) by the SOA. Also, I believe, this was included in the latest edition of score.

[Adrian]

Beginners should be provided with both written and pictorial descriptions.

[awk]

Beginners should be provided with both written and pictorial descriptions.

In my school club, I only use pictorial descriptions. Never a problem, rather the opposite. Its the written descriptions that they come across at some events that cause the problem.

[Adventure Racer]

Depends whether you're talking child or adult beginners. As somebody who didn't start until I was 30, I still sometimes struggle a bit with pictorial, despite making lots of effort to learn them (and understanding that it should all be logical and straightforward), but I know instantly what I'm looking for if it says "earth wall north end".

[Gnitworp]

I write the compass-point qualifiers as initials (N, SE etc) on my pictorial description sheet if I get the chance so that I can work out more quickly where the markers are on the map when I am running. Does anyone else have a similar problem with dots and arrows? Bottom right is top left when you're running South, but I always know where SE is on the map whatever direction I'm running

[Adrian]

I always know where SE is on the map

Lucky you.

[Adventure Racer]

Does anyone else have a similar problem with dots and arrows? Bottom right is top left when you're running South, but I always know where SE is on the map whatever direction I'm running

Yep, the biggest remaining issue I have with pictoral - have to turn the arrows/dots into a verbose direction in my head before attempting to relate to the map. Despite having very good spatial awareness, rotating the arrow/dot directly onto the map whilst running at speed is beyond me, whilst working out which way is SE is easy. Are there people who can manage the mental gymnastics of rotating arrows/dots straight onto the map?

[Gnitworp]

You put it better than I did AR and have my sympathy.