Performance Support Tools
Have you ever tried to learn something new and wished to have a tool or an item that could help you remember whatever it was you needed to know? Perhaps you or someone you know is great at what they do but a simple item could aid them in their performance even more? If that sounds familiar, read on. This lense will appeal to individuals who work on improving human performance in a workplace, or in an adult continuing education setting. However, the information contained here can be used in academia, extracurricular activities, sports, and virtually any situation that requires optimal performance and efficiency of people who engage in various tasks.
The lense will give you a basic definition of a performance support tool and when to use one. It will also show you main elements to consider while creating the most effective job aid. Except for highlighting the most important aspects of its topic, this lense will also point you in a right direction via useful links so that you can expand your understanding of this subject matter even more.
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What is a Performance Support?
What makes it a performance support tool/job aid?
A term "job aid" is used interchangeably with a term "performance support tool". Both names are correct and describe virtually the same thing.
Performance support helps in life and work as it guides human thought and action. Its tools contain information that is specific to the task at hand and that make that task easier or more efficient. The links below will put it all in context for you.
Performance support helps in life and work as it guides human thought and action. Its tools contain information that is specific to the task at hand and that make that task easier or more efficient. The links below will put it all in context for you.
- Job Aids Table - Quiz to Know
- Click this link to quiz yourself on what is and what is not a job aid. You don't have to pre-read anything. Just do it as a pre-test to see how much you already know. Look at the table and click on what you think is right. Your answers will activate a dialog box with a feedback and short explanation.
- Job Aids/Tools - Defined
- Here's the link to that portion of the site which defines the term "Job Aid" or "Performance Support Tool". Now you can find out more about what is and what is not a job aid. You can go through the other areas of this site to find out a lot more about the topic of performance support and job aids. Explore it!
- Job Aids Examples
- Go to this link to view many examples of performance support tools and their drafts. The page contains many links to Word files with job aid scripts, demonstrations, etc. An interesting take of what may be considered an informal perfomance support tool and why.
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When to use a Performance Support Tool?
Why use a job aid instead of training?
The difference between a full-blown training and a job aid is that the former provides extensive information about a subject matter while the latter serves as a reminder or a tip for someone who doesn't require formal training. Often a task may not be complex enough to be developed into a curriculum or, sometimes, job aid can be a useful follow-up after the training took place. Depending on the situation, performance support tools are a "quick fix" solutions to the perfomance problems and/or opportunities.
- Training vs. Job Aid
- This link will tell you a little bit more about the situations in which job aids can be used. It also gives you examples of how and when you should use job aids as opposed to formal training. The entire site focuses on e-learning, distant education, and electronic performance support tools.
- Why not instruction?
- Get additional information through this link. It will take you to the subject of "Job Aids vs. Instruction" and the rest of the website is devoted to the benefits of performance support tools as well.
- Why and Where Job Aids
- Click on this link to read and interesting one-page overview of why and where job aids are most efficient. The hosting site is devoted to talent management and maximizing human performance in a workplace.
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Elements of Effective Performance Support Tool
What makes it effective?
There are many tools out there that "try" to act as job aids. However, not all of them are fulfilling their mission. There are some crucial elements that a performance support tool must contain in order to be effective.
Some tips to consider while creating a job aid are as follows:
- performance support tool must be clearly related to the task at hand (to achieve clear objectives: either business, academic, personal, or other intended goals)
- effective performance support delivers the help that people need in the right place and at the right time
- job aid should focus only on what is needed, no more, no less
- great performance support is easy to use and it "speaks" in the language of the task and of the user
Overall, the best job aid should tangibly help workers/users to reach their peak performance.
Some tips to consider while creating a job aid are as follows:
- performance support tool must be clearly related to the task at hand (to achieve clear objectives: either business, academic, personal, or other intended goals)
- effective performance support delivers the help that people need in the right place and at the right time
- job aid should focus only on what is needed, no more, no less
- great performance support is easy to use and it "speaks" in the language of the task and of the user
Overall, the best job aid should tangibly help workers/users to reach their peak performance.
- Maximum Impact Job Aids
- Check out this link to see what a performance consultant, Doug Mead, has to say about effective job aids. See why and how to create a performance support tool for the best result and maximum benefit of all parties involved.
- Written Job Aids
- Here's a link to the steps you need to consider while creating a text-rich job aid. Although it focuses on web writing, the main idea of using succinct and to the point language in the written job aids can be applied universally. It is a performance support tool about creating performance support tool! Worth checking.
- Job Aid Project
- This is a link with instructions on how to create any job aid step by step. Use it to brainstorm your own ideas of performance support tools. Originally, it was a project assigned to students in the university. A helpful outline to follow!
More examples of digital job aids - short instructional videos
Task manuals as performance support tools
Here's a short video that can act as a job aid. Although the users have to use this tool prior to the actual performance, they can simply view it as a reminder or supplemental tool instead of attending a full course or a seminar. A short performance manual like this one can act as a performance support tool becaue it helps learners/users do the task better. Check it out!
Websites and Articles About Improving Human Performance
Below you can find more links to websites and files concerned with job aids, designing instruction and support tools, and about overall development of human performance potential. Dive in! ADDITIONAL LINKS HERE:
- Chief Learning Officer Magazine
- This is a great link to the online professional publication for trainers, organizational developers, and anyone involved in human performance improvement.
- Talent Management Magazine
- Use this site as a credible resource for your projects and points of interests about adult training and development. Find out how HR professionals work on helping people develop their talents and reach their fullest potential.
- American Society for Traning and Development
- This is the link to ASTD, a renown organization that supports the professional growth of human resource professionals and continues to shape the human performance improvement specialists.
- Trainers Warehouse
- Follow this link to an interesting and very valuable site that contains tons of resources and examples of activities for the actual trainers, instructors, and other performance support specialists.
- International Society for Performance Improvement
- Find dates and schedules of workshops, seminars, and other events for performance improvement specialists here. Follow the useful links on this site to network within the Human Resource Development industry.
by MigueLichaL
Hello world! My name is Michael and I am on my way to becoming a human performance support professional. Although it sounds complex, the main pre...
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