Section 4: Human Performance Technology

Performance Problem and Solution: There are three Elementary Directors in my school district and each of them has 2 Support Specialist that work for them along with a secretary. I am a Support Specialist for one of the directors. The Elementary Directors operate under one budget in which they purchase supplies for the Support Specialist. The Support Specialist would send in request for supplies, throughout the year, to the secretary to be approved by their Elementary Director without consulting with the rest of the group. Each director was receiving an absurd amount of supply request each year. Redundant supplies orders were being submitted which caused a surplus of supplies and a waste of money. To alleviate the problem, the Directors put only one individual from the Support Specialist group in charge of managing the supplies. That person was me. The directors created an excel spreadsheet that included the item, item number, quantity and approved vendor to give to me   based on what the group requested frequently. To the list they also added standard office and school supplies. They also reserved a white board within my office were other specialist could write down items to add to the list. They gave me the responsibility of inventorying supplies, organizing the supplies, and filling out and submitting the spreadsheet at the beginning of each semester to the secretary. Now the directors only had to approve one supply list per semester, supplies were not being over ordered, and the management of fund was more efficient.

EPSS: The definition of Electronic Performance Support Systems I prefer is: A system that provides electronic task guidance and support to the user at the moment of need.

I like the way this definition reads because it is straight to the point but really broad. Electronic guidance and support can be a number of things, including application help, reference information, guided instructions and/or tutorials, subject matter expert advice and hints on how to perform a task more efficiently. I also like the way it states “the moment of need” which help me understand that EPSS is readily available for any employee to use. EPSS has not been widely used because of the cost associated with establishing the system as well as having implications of weakening the performer because they rely on the system instead of growing their expertise. As cost decreases and EPSS technology evolve, I see more system being implemented in the future.

Blended Learning:

Our district has had past problem with 5^th grade science on state assessment. In the 2003-2004 school year, our 5^th grade overall passing rate was 56% for the entire district. Over the next couple of years with the support of blended learning we were able to turn our district around and have a 92% passing rate in science for the 2010-2011 school year. Teachers’ utilized investigation based learning from the program FOSS to guide their direct instruction while also utilizing EduSmart computer based software programs to supplement and support student learning. Edusmart Science is a Flash-based, "teacher guided" instructional tool that is designed to enhance instruction and maximize learning through the use of proven research-based strategies. It builds students' concept knowledge using multiple "real world" examples and models, vivid graphics, concise narrated text and strategically placed interactive opportunities to practice acquired knowledge. Edusmart Science also enhances effective questioning, the activation of prior knowledge and ongoing assessment through built-in "pauses", allowing student learning to drive the pace of instruction. Student utilized the programs at least 3 times a week during school hours as well as in tutorials, Saturday school, and extended day programs. This blended learning had a profound impact on student performance within out district because it increases student engagement, provided more rigor to instructional practices and stimulated the learning of new concepts.

Informal Learning: Informal learning has played a huge part in my adult life and I have been exposed to several types. Lately, my informal learning has had a lot to do with the online classes I am taking. Learning how to create blogs, wiki, and ePortfolio through videos provided by my professors and conducting searches through Google or Wikipedia have provided lots of insight on educational technology. This type of learning is very engaging to me because I actually get to apply what I am learning to my real life. Having a 7 month old daughter, I have utilized her pediatrician’s website lots of times for remedies to whatever she is experiencing at the moment. At my job I am constantly in conversation with my colleagues about how to prepare some data spreadsheet or assist a teacher with a certain classroom management issue. We are always learning from each because everyone in the office has different expertise instructionally and different insight on curriculum and best practices. In these different situations, my role is interacting and learning while sharing and forming my own ideas and thoughts. My instructor act as facilitate in the learning process by providing guidance and support when needed.