Section 4: Human Performance Technology

Not all solutions to learning and/or performance require an instructional one. Many times a non-instructional approach is the better solution. This week's posting concentrates on human performance, electronic performance support systems, the use of knowledge management systems, and the concept of informal learning.

1. Chapter 14 discusses the concept of the evolution of human performance improvement. Several sections of chapter 14 present a variety of non instructional solutions to performance problems. Identify a performance problem in your area of work and provide a non instructional solution to solve the problem.

Keeping the books in order in a library is an ongoing job for a librarian.  One of the skills we teach to the students in the library is the Dewey Decimal System.  I do not know if the students do not see the importance of order on the library bookshelves or if they are just lazy, but we do spend much of our time checking the shelves and putting books back in their correct place on the shelf.  As a non instructional approach, I will give the students time to look at the shelves to see the order.  I sometimes think they are so focused on choosing a book, they do not see the books are in special order.  This time they will focus on looking at the order rather than the titles.  Maybe then they will see the system in place. 

Another non instructional solution might be to locate a book on the OPAC, displaying the information on the data projector and having students go on a scavenger hunt to locate the book on the bookshelf where it belongs.  Maybe then the students will see the importance of the books being in order and do a better job of putting the books back on the shelf where they belong.  Our outcome is that students will make an effort to help keep the bookshelves need and orderly.

2. Chapter 15 presents several definitions of electronic performance support systems. In addition to these definitions, locate a few more and indicate your preference explaining why you prefer it. Additionally, describe why you believe EPSS have not been widely used and if they are more likely be become more prevalent in the future.

Raybound says an Electronic Performance Support System is “a computer-based system that improves worker productivity by providing on-the-job access to integrated information, advice and learning experiences”.

There are many definitions of electronic performance support systems.  Richard Horn says the origin of electronic performance support systems was “simply the need to use technology to connect knowledge resources that seemed to complement each other”.  Horn says he also knew that most purchasers of software did not want to spend much time learning it, but “want to open the packaging, load the software, and only learn when it was necessary to do so”.  He saw that the users had no other way to learn or support themselves using the software other than by using what was provided.  Horn realized the importance to create both tutorials and online reference material for software companies.  This explanation is clear to understand. 

 I think EPSS has not been widely used because we think it is easier to ask someone to show us how to do something and it is sometimes a faster solution.  However, with budget cuts and reduction in force, there may not be someone to ask in tech support or it may take a while to get help.  I believe EPSS will become more prevalent in the future because of cuts and more is expected of an employee.  The “live chat” feature is a good way for an employee to get answers to problems.  You are talking to a real person and you can multi-task while you are waiting for a response.  “Live chat” can be very effective.  This year I find myself using that feature more often for two different software programs I use daily in my librarian duties. 

3. Knowledge management is the way we manage information, share that information, and use it. Organizations, such as schools, are full of information/data and we must organize that data in a way that we can make sense of it. We use data to make decisions and good data=good decision making. Identify a real or hypothetical problem in your line of work. How might a blended learning approach, including the use of a knowledge management system, be use to solve the problem?

We manage information, the way we share it, and use it so that the information is meaningful to us.  Using this data to improve student performance is what knowledge management is about. 

The software we use in the library to manage the collection is Follett’s Destiny.  I can get many reports and use the data in many ways.  Each month, I create the report for book circulation.   The report tells how many books were circulated through the library within a certain time period.  I take the number of books check out for the month and put it in a table I created by months.  I compare the months and ask why this month is different for others, could it be number of days in school that month, how many visits did the classes make to the library, and other factors.  Now I must take the information and use to the advantage of developing library schedule for book checkout.  I must work with the teachers to allow their students to come to the library.  Sometimes it is hard to find that extra time because library classes are in the rotation with music, P.E., and computer lab time.  I need to promote reading, perhaps by putting to gather challenge to the students.  We could set a number of books to read or AR points and the students’ names would be put on a special bulletin board.  I could display new books to the library in a special section.  I could encourage reading by giving book talks or having students give booktalks.  I can remind the students to use the library’s software to see what the Top 10 books in our library are. I will need to keep a record of what I am doing to promote reading and also use the report to see what is raising the number of books check out each month.  By using the data, I can help the students read more.

I know I could get support from the teaching staff because it will help the students do better on their tests.  Using the data procedure by the library’s software can be put to good use.

4. Describe the types of informal learning you have been exposed to in your adult life. What was the purpose? What was the experience like? Was it engaging? Social? What role did you play? What role did the instructor play?

I love informal learning because it is always a surprise and a good experience.  When I was a college student wanting to become a teacher, I went back to my elementary school.  After visited with the Principal, he suggested I observe a veteran teacher.  He placed me with Mrs. Reeves, a second grade teacher. I spent a semester there.  It was a wonderful experience.  First of all, I wanted to be in a classroom so much.  I watched her work through the lesson cycle that I had read about so many times in a textbook.  Now I saw how it really worked.  I was surprised at the interruption Mrs. Reeve had to deal with and how she handled each one.  She was a wonderful teacher! 

Mrs. Reeves also helped me with some of my assignments.  She would read them and offer suggestions for improvement.  It was helpful to have someone I could talk to and get a realistic feedback.

I cannot tell you in my early years of teaching; how many times my mind went back to that classroom and all I the knowledge I really gained from that experience.  I know that real life experience made me a better teacher.