Section 4: 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. 

Chapter 14 was an interesting and thought provoking chapter to read. One particular problem I feel like our district has is the lack of technology resources for teachers that are readily available or given to us. I've read blogs of other teachers that state that their districts have provided them with ipads, ipods, and other new technologies. The only thing our district has provided us with for our students are the Promethean boards. We have a Educational Technology department that provides classes on how to use the Promethean boards,iPads, as well as Incentive Programs. The incentive programs are great for teachers that have time to make it to the classes. Teachers are able to win equipment based on the numbers of classes they take. Even after they win the equipment if the teacher leaves the district, the equipment stays. We also have the opportunity to win an iPad if we attend at least 22 hours of Educational Technology courses. The win is not guaranteed they do a drawing and you get the "chance" to win. With the push for technology within the district and the opprotunities that students have to use technology, it would be nice if we would be given the resources instead of having to take an extensive amount of classes to earn them or get a "chance" to win them. We also have laptops that are antiquated. I've been with the district for 6 years and we've had the same ones for that length of time.When looking at the Behavior Models the district does provide opportunity for training and incentives but it is lacking frequent feedback and individual motives.


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.

 I found a couple of terms that define performance support systems."Performance support systems are the integration of tools to help the user perform a task". Another definition I found was written by Laffey (1994)
"systems [that]are built to integrate resources and tools and to facilitate working on complex tasks".
Based on these two definitions I feel that within our district we have working performance support systems for those who have earned the equipment. We also have them for teachers who are interested in learning how to use the Promethean boards effectively. There are classes that are provided to show you how to create flipcharts, use Google docs, Google Earth and many other resources for the board. However, it doesn't help the teachers who haven't taken the extra courses and earned the equipment or taken a "chance" at earning the equipment.

 

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 order for this problem to be solved the district would have to understand the need for technology for all students. Being able to expand their horizons not just with a classroom of 4 computers but how to truly use technology through different mediums. Not just how to operate a Promethean Board. Our district has to also take a look around and look at the different technology trends, as well as looking at what other great districts are doing differently. Allowing students to even rent or check out Ipads in order to use for class, submitting assignments online etc. To manage this knowledge our district can or inquire about great school districts and see the benefits of the students using the technology and getting funds to be able to implement it within our school systems.

 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 is an administrative concept that learning takes place outside of the dedicated learning environment that includes discussions or interest activities. I don't know if I'm in the right ball park with this but I don't know of any informal learning experiences within the organization but I do read teacher blogs alot. I like to see how teachers use certain resources to teach the same material I teach. I live by the old phrase work smarter not harder. So I look to see what teachers have posted on their blogs about different skills that they have taught to their students and what fun activities they have created. These informal experiences are shared with thousands of teachers around the globe. I think that these expereinces should be replicated and broadened which they are. As each year passes more and more teachers learn about these blogs as well as websites like teacherspayteachers. Most teachers post freebies on their pages so it makes life a lot simpler for you the teacher. As a teacher we have busy lives so this type of informal learning is a great help.