Job Aids and Performance Support

Introduction Connect Apply Reflect Extend

Introduction

The concept of a job aid is fairly easy: It is an object, external to the user, which contains information structured to support the user by directing, guiding, or enlightening their performance.

Job aids are everywhere. But then, so are instructional materials. And like instructional materials, some are designed properly, and others simply confuse the user because of the information they contain or how they have been assembled. The purpose of this module is to help you better understand what job aids are, when they are appropriate (and when they're not), the different types of job aids, and how to properly create one.

Connect
 

All the reading for this module is in your last textbook, Job Aids and Performance Support: Moving from Knowledge in the Classroom to Knowledge Everywhere. If you have not started your reading, please so so now.

Apply

 

Activity 1

Once you've reviewed the textbook on job aids, begin planning your own job aid, as described in the final EDTEC 540 assignments. Be sure to note that the majority of points given for the assignment are related to your job aid process and the report on it.

Reflect

There is no Reflect assignment this week

Extend

Overview of this section

Main points 

Each chapter on the Rossett and Gautier-Downs book contains a chapter review. Make sure you review these to test your understanding of what job aids are, how they work, and what situations provide opportunities for the use of job aids.

Next step

Although the creation of instructional materials will be time intensive, it will eventually come to an end. But that's not when the work of an instructional designer ends. Next you'll need to determine how the product will be implemented, and eventually evaluated. That's the topic in our next chapter.

For more information

Rossett, A. & Gautier-Downes, J. (1991). A Handbook of Job Aids. San Diego: Pfeiffer.

Introduction Connect Apply Reflect Extend

Page authors: Donn Ritchie & Bob Hoffman & James Marshall. Last updated: Marshall, Spring, 2006.
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