Section 4: Human Performance Technology

   As a kindergarten teacher, a major performance problem is for the students to learn all the letters of the alphabet with the corresponding sound.  This poses a problem and a vast majority of our teaching is centered on this particular objective.  I have tried many non-instructional methods to help my students who struggle with learning their letters and sounds.  I have used various websites such as www.literacycenter.net, www.abcya.com and www.starfall.com.  Both of these sites allow the children to work with their letters in a "fun" way.  Many times the students don't realize they are learning through the games, puzzles and listening activities that these sites provide.  My students also work through with the letters in various centers that I have in my classroom.  These are provided during small group instruction and the students can work independently through them.  Some of the centers have students match capital and lowercase letters, write the letters, match pictures with the same letters and other beginning sound techniques.  Also, my students use a listening center to enhance their success.  They can hear the letter, its sound, and a some words that begin with that particular letter.  In a kindergarten classroom, learning letters and their sounds is crucial.  Thus, the students are allowed many non-instructional ways of learning them throughout the day.

     One definition that I found for electronic performance support systems came from wikipedia. It stated that EPSS are "integrated electronic environment that is available to and easily accessible by each employee and is structured to provide immediate, individualized on-line access to the full range of information, software, guidance, advice and assistance, data, images, tools, and assessment and monitoring systems to permit job performance with minimal support and intervention by others" according to Gloria Gerry in 1991. I liked this definition because it gave a clear definition of an EPSS that could be used in the business environment. Employees need immediate help in order for deadlines to be met for various projects. Also in 1991, Barry Raybould condensed the definition by stating an EPSS is "a computer-based system that improves worker productivity by providing on-the-job access to integrated information, advice, and learning experiences. This definition is a much more precise version of the one Ms. Gerry gave in the same year. A third definition of an EPSS comes from the business perspective. It was stated by William Bezanson and he stated that an EPSS is "a performance support system provides just-in-time, just enough training, information, tools, and help for users of a product or work environment, to enable optimum performance by those users when and where needed, thereby also enhancing the performance of the overall business". This definition is similar to the previous two mentioned, but uses less legality language and is straightforward. These are three definitions that I found about EPSS that helped me better understand an EPSS.

     In my school district we have curriculum based assessments (CBAs)that are used at the end of various units of teaching.  The problem we have seen this year with the CBAs is that they way the lessons are taught is not the way it is presented on the test.  Thus, the students are not performing as well as they should on them.  Also, some items that are being tested are not taught in the particular unit just presented. Many times the curriculum based assessments contain more tacit knowledge instead of explicit knowledge.  This makes it difficult to say a student is correct or incorrect based on how they achieved the answer.  A knowledge management system should allow teachers to give feedback and make changes as needed to the CBAs.   Many times that teacher is having to "teach the test" instead of the material as it is presented in the lessons.  There should be more collaboration on these assessments before they are used to "judge" a teacher or their students.

     I have been exposed to a lot of informal learning in my adult life.  Some is for my job and others have been to further my education.  As a student training to obtain a masters in library science, I have been exposed to a tremendous amount of informal learning.  I have had to read material assigned on my own, review notes given by the professor and complete assignments as assigned.  All of this is with no face-to-face time with the professor which was a huge adjustment from my bachelors in education degree.  I do enjoy the self-pace because I have two young kids at home and I can work after they are in bed and not miss time with them.  That aspect has been crucial to me.  I have had to discipline my self to work through material daily to keep up.  I have learned to use a virtual classroom, blogs, and e-mail to communicate with my professors and peers in my classes.  At this point the professors have given the assignments,been great at answering my questions and giving guidance electronically as well.  I have enjoyed my informal learning experience in my masters classes.

Kristen Downs