You know the saying "use it or lose it"? Out of necessity for those who are ESL (English as a second language) speakers and to take up less space, directions for many tasks are given with few or no words and step by step pictures. Our technology is all visual cues. These and other society changes makes us visually dependent when learning how to do something and our critical thinking "muscles" are fat and flabby! We are all becoming visual learners if we are not so already. Add that some written pattern directions are done poorly and it can be very frustrating. Even "non-newbies" struggle with some directions and instructions. Don't doubt your teaching if the majority got it.