← Unit 3 · Checklist Design Principles
Anatomy of a good step
15 min
0/2 practice
- Use an action verb and an observable condition.
- Keep one action per line.
NASA human-factors researchers Asaf Degani and Earl Wiener studied how airline crews actually used checklists. One of their findings is easy to apply: a checklist is a tool for people under workload, so every line should be short, specific and checkable at a glance.
A good step starts with an action verb (Inspect, Verify, Record, Set), names exactly what is acted on, and — when it matters — the condition that counts as done: 'Verify battery charge is at least 95%' instead of 'Check battery'.
Fix the line
Pick the best rewrite.
Make sure props are good
Fix the line
Pick the best rewrite.
Charge batteries and pack them and check the card
Finish every practice activity to complete this lesson.