As Danny G. Langdon wrote in September 2010, for human performance technology to be a science, it needs commonly understood and applied models. He proposed his language of work (LOW) model. This article presents arguments for a very different model, one that cuts the cord to our profession's beginnings in the design of programmed instruction,…

Cognitive readiness (CR) and performance for operational time-critical environments are continuing points of focus for military and academic communities. In response to this need, we designed an open source interactive CR assessment application as a highly adaptive and efficient open source testing administration and analysis tool. It is capable…

How we provide training follows from the beliefs we hold about the effectiveness of different training approaches and methodologies. To be effective, the concepts and principles that guide how we develop and deliver training should be rooted in research. This article describes some of the myths about training that drive the design and delivery of…

Practice and experience, whether simulated or on the job, are not enough to ensure effective learning. Learners must be able to make sense of those experiences to identify poor decisions and actions, missing knowledge, and weak skills that deserve attention. Using instructors to provide one-on-one instruction is effective but also expensive. This…

A relatively new feature of human performance technology (HPT) is e-training, which, while considerably more economical and time-efficient than traveling to a remote location for training, presents other challenges. Course length remains a problem, and there are professional organizations for which performance improvement is too difficult to…

Commonly, originality is associated with creativity. It follows that one might expect creative instruction to consist of a new style or method of instruction. However, there are few, if any, training methods that are new. Hence, to be considered creative instruction or artful training, an approach must be relatively original rather than being…

A variety of instructional methods have been shown to be effective in fostering employee learning in workplace training. These include problem-based learning, cooperative learning, and situated learning. Despite their success, however, there are at least two important reasons to actively foster learning beyond the training room: The transfer of…

Describes a systematic approach to selecting instructional designs, discussing performance analysis, gaps, elements (inputs, conditions, process, outputs, consequences, feedback), matrices, changes in performance state (establishing, improving, maintaining, and extinguishing performance), intervention interference, and involving others in…

The authors discuss potential shortfalls of assistantships and internships in preparing students for practical career application of professional degrees and describe the benefits to overall development of courses eliciting performance in authentic scenarios. This article explores what is necessary, not only to teach, but also to learn, human…

Discusses current views on problem solving in the workplace, and identifies five areas for consideration: (1) knowledge representation; (2) verbally teaching strategy components of the skill--versus the learner acquiring it inductively through practice; (3) the principles of teaching procedures; (4) how to construct simulations; and (5) weighing…

Discusses benefits of mentoring for the novice, the organization, and the mentor. Outlines key principles of successful mentoring: proper preparation; formal training; effective pairing of individuals; organizational support; time for reflection and evaluation; and follow through. (AEF)

Research has shown that knowledge instruction alone is a poor agent for influencing changes in behavior (Bruvold, 1990; Morrison et al., 1994; Valente et al., 1998). Successful outcomes of interventions in education and performance improvement involve more than knowledge gains. Furthermore, a growing body of researchers from different areas have…

E-learning initiatives have become increasingly prevalent in the last few years as human performance technology practitioners look for ways to lower costs and increase learning effectiveness. For both fiscal and safety reasons, organizations are much less sanguine about flying both learners and facilitators to learning activities. A business…