Section 4: Human Performance Technology

1. 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 problem that I have encountered at work is about lack of tracking attendance of after school tutorings. The purpose of the after school tutorings is to help students in math, reading, and with other homework activities including research,computer projects, and reports. Students report to tutors classroom right after the dismissal, and stay there one hour. This is mandatory program for students who need help in math, and reading subjects. Students who miss three days of tutorings without excuse, gets Saturday Detention. Dean of Students is in charge of tracking attendance of after school tutorings. However, he sometimes couldn't conduct this for some reasons (discipline problems, meeting with a parent after school, meeting with administrations, etc.). To analyze this performance problem, I can create a Google Docs sheet to track attendance of tutorings. Then, share this Google Doc with tutors and Dean of Students. Tutors will enter attendance of students to this Google Doc sheet, and Dean of students will be able to track students' attendance of after school tutorings easily and efficiently.

2. 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.

Performace Support System is the integration of different tools to help the user perform a task. Laffey (1994) defined performance support systems as "systems that are built to integrate resources and tools and to facilitate working on complex tasks. McGraw (1994) defines a PSS as "an integrated tool suite that supports the user of a complex system by providing embedded assistance within the system itself".

In the textbook, D4Me(Define, Design, Develop, Deliver, Manager-Measure) has been introduced. D4M2 model might help me to solve the problem that I mentioned above. 

Define Phase - In this phase, I identify the needs, and goals of performance support system. The main purpose is to help Dean of Students to perform the task to track students attendance of after school tutorings effectively.

Design Phase - In this phase, the purpose is to create a blueprint for later use to design EPSS program. The figure below is the prototype of my EPSS program. Teachers will be able to enter attendance cases for students for specific dates. I will get teacher's tutoring days.

Develop Phase - In this phase, I will design my EPSS program by using Google Docs, I create attendance cases for boxes, share the Google Docs sheet with teachers, and Dean of Students. I tested my EPSS, and it is ready.

Deliver Phase - I will announce this system to the Staff during our weekly Staff meeting. I will train tutors how to use this system.

Manage-Measure phase - I will monitor the system every week. I will inform the teachers about possible enhancements to program.

3. 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 the textbook, the Knowledge Management has been defined as, a revolution in the way we manage the information, and the way we share and use it. For the performance problem that I mentioned about, I can create a knowledge management system for the problem. For the codification part, I can create a  form script on the Staff Portal webpage, that way teachers can freely ask any question regarding to problem about tutoring attendance issue. Then, I gather all the questions, and create a Wiki or FAQ system that contains questions and answers. I put a link to Wiki page on the Staff Portal webpage. For Collaboration part, I will create an online community forum or blog to share ideas about the problem above. For Access part, there will be a search form on the portal. By using search form, teachers will be able to access the information quickly.

Figure courtesy of emeraldinsight.com

4. 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 to include others?

Informal Learning tends to be authentic, typically happening beyond the control of the people who manage training programs, outside the limits of classrooms and environments established to deliver formal instruction at a distance.Informal learning is occurring all the time. School has been organizing field trips to places such as science museums, zoo, etc. I always wanted to be volunteer chaperon teacher for these field trips. At first, students and I are not aware of what we are going to learn in the field trip. Later, we realized that it was a wonderful opportunity to learn new things, and was informal learning experience by attending the field trip. The museums let you approach toward many things that you have an interest in and you are motivated to learn.

Other than Museums, I arranged a trip to college for my Robotics students. We visited university's Robotics laboratories. It was a great opportunity for my students to learn different things about Robotics. They just saw the Robotics objects there. They control the big robots. At the end of day, students seemed very motivated about Robotics.

I think both field trips can be duplicated, and include other students. We post trip pictures and videos on the website, school's Facebook and Twitter pages, and hang them on the bulletin boards to share these experience with others.