Human Performance Technology

Chapter 14 discusses the concept and 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 identify non-instructional solutions that may help solve the problem.

 A performance challenge I face in my area of work is increasing knowledge of Teachers who are not knowledgeable about interactive whiteboards. On a regular basis my coworkers and I meet to go over furious ways to incorporate technology into our Afterschool program. When training we go over the following, how to use a variety of resources, how to set up the interactive whiteboard to the laptop, and how to use the software. We provide the trainings on a monthly basis for our teachers. As an Afterschool program we would like to improve and increase our student’s learning. When looking at the problem I ask myself are our teachers motivated and eager to use the technology? Maybe what we ask needs to be clearer? Are teachers lacking in this skill area? Either way in order for our program to improve teachers will need to start being evaluated in order to meet the goals and objectives we are looking for. I believe this may help solve the problem in some aspect.  

Chapter 15 presents performance support systems. Define performance support systems and explain how a performance support system might (or might not) help solve the problem you identified above.

Performance support system is a variety of different tools to help the learner perform a task which in some cases should improve the learner’s performance.  In my opinion a performance support system would help solve the problem of teachers not understanding and needing further training to use Interactive Whiteboard in our Afterschool programs. If we were able to provide our teachers an electronic support site on the schools network system for interactive whiteboard help and training with how to videos, audio, etc. Our teachers who are in need of the extra support could learn how on his/her own time. I think teachers would become motivated and eager to improve students learning with these changes.  

Chapter 16 explains knowledge management: the way we manage information, share that information, and use it to solve organization problems. Organizations, such as schools, accumulate a great deal information/data, which must be organized in a way that we can make sense of it in order to use for making decisions. What knowledge would help solve the problem you identified above and how would that knowledge need to be collected and managed to help facilitate problem solving?

In Chapter 16 the best option that could help solve the issue would be Access and collaboration. Our teachers need the extra training on how to use Interactive Whiteboard and gain knowledge. Teachers would be able to collaborate with one another and support each other. If at any time someone is struggling with understanding the issue it can be resolved by making sense of the situation right then.  

Chapter 17 describes types of informal learning. What informal learning experiences have you participated in at your organization? Could those informal learning experiences be shared with others? Could the knowledge gained in those settings be codified and managed? And should it be managed or should the informal experiences be replicated or broadened for others?

Informal learning to me is what we as Graduate students do to collaborate with one another on each other’s blogs, we also learn from one another in the process. I had an informal learning experience during my student teaching a few years ago. At times I would be observed and speak with my mentor. I loved being able to learn from interacting and not just from a textbook it was much more than that. I was able to take the time to ask certain questions if needed. She was able to inform me than just looking in a textbook. I think everyone can learn from informal learning.

From my experiences I feel those setting can be codified and managed. While I was student teaching I made sure to keep everything I had. I knew I would be using what I was learning/teaching in my near future and would share with others. Once I graduated, I still go back to my notes to see what information I can use for the job I have now. Even though I’m not an Art teacher I create the Art Curriculum. I reference back to the learning tools I used previously. I do feel the notes I took can be used for others in the same field.