~Week 5-Section 4~

~Week 5-Section 4~

1. Identify a performance problem in your area of work and provide a non instructional solution to solve the problem. 

For some reason this year, as opposed to other years, my students have a serious issue with returning completed homework.  On Mondays through Thursdays, students have one assignment for homework which should generally take twenty to thirty minutes.  On Monday of every week, a home reader assignment is assigned and due on Thursday.  Students are expected to read the designated story with their parents and then complete the five comprehension questions at the end of the story.  My 2010-2011 third grade class continues to struggle with turning in this assignment.  Of those who do turn in the assignment, often it is sloppy work.  In an effort to resolve this issue I have come up with many non-instructional solutions.  These include having students write a reminder to finish the assignment in their planner, giving students a verbal reminder on Wednesday, rewarding student who turn in the homework prior to or on Thursday, posting reminders in the weekly newsletter to parents, and doing a weekly first through third place prize for the best quality submission of this home reader assignment.

2. Chapter 15 presents several definitions of electronic performance support systems. In addition to these definitions, locate a few more and indicate your preference explaining why you prefer it.

·        According to Wikipedia, an electronic performance support system is “any computer software program or component that improves user performance.”

·        According to The Free Dictionary, an electronic performance support system is “A system that provides electronic task guidance and support to the user at the moment of need. EPSS can provide application help, reference information, guided instructions and/or tutorials, subject matter expert advice and hints on how to perform a task more efficiently. An EPSS can combine various technologies to present the desired information. The information can be in the form of text, graphical displays, sound, and video presentations.”

·        According to Expand Global Online, an electronic performance support system is “a specialized environment that allows learning or user assistance resources to be embedded directly within the workflow of business-critical software applications. Users receive information in the live software application, exactly where and when they need it, to help more effectively and independently carry out their job tasks without extensive training or heavy reliance on traditional forms of support. “

I prefer the Free Dictionary definition as it clarifies and gives more insight as to what an EPSS is.  The Wikipedia definition is too broad.  With terms such as these, I feel it is important that the description is more precise.
I have also attached the following link to the perspective of EPSS from 1992: https://www.msu.edu/~sleightd/school.html

Additionally, describe why you believe EPSS have not been widely used and if they are more likely be become more prevalent in the future. 

I believe that EPSS has not been widely used due to the general population not being aware of it’s existence.  In my mind it is a lot like the internet in the late nineties.   It was available but people had apprehensions and opted with their original ways of providing support systems.  And just like the internet, I believe we will see the usage of EPSS expand tremendously due to it’s independent nature in regard to learners, cost efficiency, open access, usability, and distinct capacity to increase knowledge.

Identify a real or hypothetical problem in your line of work. How might a blended learning approach, including the use of a knowledge management system, be used to solve the problem? 

In my line of work within a public school (Title 1) third grade classroom, the issue of parents not knowing how to help their students academically exists.  So many times parents have no idea how to teach/tutor their own children in regards to skills or areas their child is struggling with.  My solution, which includes a blended learning approach and the use of a knowledge management system would be for the school to offer technology sessions to parents.  The session would take place in the computer lab so it would be necessary to offer these sessions several times in order that any parents interested would be able to attend because there is limited availability in this location.  When parents would attend, all the instruction/lesson would be provided through the computer with facilitation of the instructor of the session.  This would me that administration/technology would have to prepare the program for teaching the parents how to help their children ahead of time.  Maybe this would be a powerpoint or links to sites that are viewed in a categorized fashion.  Another option would be E-Learning where situation problem examples are provided to help parents have a better understanding and comprehension of the issue and an effective resolution.  Regardless, parents would be able to navigate through the information and ask questions as necessary to the available instructor(s).  

Describe the types of informal learning you have been exposed to in your adult life. What as the purpose? What was the experience like? Was it engaging? Social? What role did you play? What role did the instructor play? 

            Wow!  I have experienced a magnitude of informal learning between school, college, church, working as a teacher, working in other areas, hobbies, and parenting.  My brain is trained to look for “teachable moments” whether I am consciously aware of this or not.  My life has been about learning and educating whether it be myself, my daughter, my students, or acquaintances in life.  Along with the satisfaction of learning something new, I get a little adrenaline rush which propels me toward learning more and more and more.