Section 4: Human Performance Technology

1. Human Performance Improvement is a great way to look at the problem of achieving.  Its focus is finding solutions to achievement problems using instructional and non-instructional techniques.  The attributes of HPI suggest that improving performance does not just stop at re-evaluating the instruction, training, or message, but that people are influenced by many factors. 

I have had problems with getting my students to study and complete homework.  This problem is not just my problem, but spread throughout the campus.  I have tried many instructional methods to correct the problem and have not had any success.  I was talking with my content instructional coach about the situation and the challenges.  The discussion leads her to suggest an interesting non-instructional solution to the problem.  She stated that my students bring their supplies to class because that is what I expect.  My students participate in class because I expect them to.  She stated it is not your instruction that is lacking it is your expectations.  You have expected everything from them except studying and doing homework.  This suggestion was moving for me because I really thought that I have did all I could have done.  I was really actually trying to come up with some instructional method that would get them to change their behavior.  It is no secret that if students study and do their homework, their grades and performance would improve. 

2. Allow for different learning styles: EPSS aids in helping deliver a message in a variety of interfaces; multimedia – video, audio, and text.  This is my favorite.  Sometime I want to find or learn about different information but I do not allow what to read about it.  I would like to visually see the information being performed

Allow for different levels of knowledge for users: EPSS helps to reduce the amount of information, but allowing the excess information to be accessed if a user wants to using hyperlinks.   

Fast access to information: information is available immediately for the user.  The user does not have to go and search to unneeded information. 

Easily updated: EPSS has a computerized way of updating the information being needed.  

I think that EPSS has not been widely used because a lot of worker were being chosen to perform a task that they have experience doing.  If a worker knows how to change out a light bulb and knows current needed for the light fixture, there is little training that the worker needs to help them perform their job.  When companies had training the common practice was VCR tapes and DVDs. 

EPSS would evolve into a way of life or an important asset to have for the companies.  Because demands for products are high, more workers are needed.  A lot of the workers are not highly qualified for the jobs; EPSS helps companies solve this problem.  EPSS solutions also provide multimedia representation for the trainings.  EPSS is important to companies because it can like a computer application that performs any combination of the aforementioned functions as needed to support performance (p.149).

3. I really have a problem with my students knowing how to read a graph and creating a graph giving some information.  I am reading about blended instruction and what jumped out at me is that the fact that blended instruction also requires formal and informal instructions.  I have done blended instructions trying to solve the problem, but they are not mastering the concept.  As I continue to read an idea using blending instruction and formal and informal instruction comes to mine.  Of course the student would get the formal instruction.  I could have the students chose a career and describe the career.  Then they would have to show me how this career could be rewarding over time and how it is rewarding after achieving a level of certifications.  They would have to have their descriptions graphed out so I can see the effect over a 20 year career.  I would provide them with websites that would help them gather information. 

4. I have been exposed to several informal learning experiences in my life.  I am going to share one that occurred while I was serving in the United States Navy.  When I first arrived to my duty station, I had some formal training that covered my job as an engineer.  I was assisted a partner that had been at that duty station for about 2 years.  My partner show me the normal protocol as far as where to receive our work order forms, processing the order forms, where all the location for each work order where located, and how to finalize each work order.  In school we learn how to about the different systems and how to conduct repairs on the systems that was it.  The thing about learning in school is that most of the situations are prearranged and the results are already known.  The instructor arranges the systems to be able to be worked on to achieve a desired result from the students.  What my partner was able to show me is that there are a lot of tricks to the trade that is not thought in school or could not be thought in school.  Also my partner was able to show me how to go about troubleshooting on the different systems especially the ones that was not covered in school.  We began to share the job duties as I began to know more and more about them.  This relationship continued and it was very productive for me because I was able to take the lead with another partner before any of the other sailors who came aboard with me did.  The relationship was very social because I had a lot of respect for him for showing me the ropes and allowing me to gain more and more confidence with my work.  Allot of his informal teaching allowed me grow faster than I would have without him.