This article presents seven vignettes that focus on what technology specialists, instructional designers, teacher trainers, teachers, parents, corporate trainers and performance technologists can do to create positive and systemic change in education. These include: (1) "What Technology Specialists Can Do," by Brian Beabout; (2) "What…

These four papers are from a symposium that was facilitated by Richard J. Torraco at the 1995 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development (HRD). "Performance Technology--Isn't It Time We Found Some New Models?" (William J. Rothwell) reviews briefly two classic models, describes criteria for the high performance workplace…

Focusing on improvement is different than focusing on quality, quantity, customer satisfaction, and productivity. This paper discusses Open System Theory, and suggests ways to change large systems. Changing a system (meaning the way all the parts are connected) requires a considerable amount of data gathering and analysis. Choosing the proper…

Most representations of academic disciplines have been created when experts depict or report what they know; however, there are potential problems that can arise when practitioners rely on expert self-report. One way to avoid potential problems associated with expert self-report is to employ cognitive task analysis methods. The Pathfinder Scaling…

Given the emerging trend of innovating Instructional Design process (ID) for Human Performance Technology (HPT) related application in order to more effectively addressing organizational performance problems in industries, it is necessary to prepare students majoring in Instructional Design or Educational Technology in terms of how they can apply…

Human performance technology is a collection of techniques for evaluating and designing human performance systems. It isn't a philosophy, a moral imperative, or a way of life. When technologists promote as more than what it is, they jeopardize their credibility and distort their own roles as performance engineers. (Author)

Discusses the value of training interventions for performance improvement based on the author's experiences with various training events. Topics include making clear expectations; accomplishment-based project planning; understanding performance problems; and participant learning and instructional benefits. (LRW)

Discusses the implementation of electronic learning systems in organizations, focusing on the role of HPT (human performance technology) professionals in the needs assessment process to assess the readiness of the organization for electronic learning. Topics include human resources; content; information technology; finance; vendors; job aids; and…

Reports the results of a survey of 23 business organizations regarding the current effectiveness of performance technologists and current preparation of people for the role. Highlights include the desired performance, including designing interventions, and a three-stage model for preparing performance technologists based on the organizations'…

Considers how to integrate theory, research, and practice in human performance technology. Discusses human learning; market pull versus knowledge push; using inquiry to connect theory, research, and practice; constructivist examples; behavioral and cognitive approaches; and differences in research methodologies. (Contains 13 references.) (LRW)

The International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) President (1999-2000) reports on the State of the Profession. Part I compares the profession of human performance technology (HPT) to other professions. Part II discusses the nature of HPT and examines critical classes of variables affecting the mission of HPT. Part III illustrates…

Discusses measurement in human performance technology, emphasizing identifying countable behaviors and accomplishments and considering the time dimension. Topics include validation; accountability; decision making; criteria to evaluate; dangers of percentages and ratios; standards; increments or decrements in performance; learning; on-the-job…

Discusses problems that arise when computer software users have to learn a new system while maintaining productivity. Highlights include active learning; a constructivist view; Vygotsky's zone of proximal development; and a model called Design for Learnability (DesiL) that focuses the performance technologist on an ethnomethodological study of…

Presents a multidimensional perspective to training transfer for performance professionals that concerns both task adaptability and worker autonomy. Offers principles for effective transfer as well as specific problems which must be solved to achieve the best results. Provides suggestions for evaluating training success. (AEF)

Discusses issues associated with the virtual office. Summarizes advantages and disadvantages from employees' and employers' perspectives. Uses the behavior engineering model (Thomas Gilbert, 1996) as a framework to analyze different factors related to performance, and suggests the application of other concepts from human performance technology and…