In the last four years Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grants have been made available to physical educators with the purpose of combating the obesity crisis that plagues the country. Through an application process, and based on the needs of the school district, funds are awarded to help and assist physical education programs…

This paper examines the concept of performance support systems in university teaching. In four different studies a performance support system with education elements was built to support students while they learn and work on their assignments. Performance support systems originally originated from business and industry but seem to be very valuable…

The major change from an industrial to an information-based society has far-reaching implications for the profession of arms. This shift challenges many assumptions about soldier development and requires an aggressive response to retain the U.S. Army's edge despite an expanding mission and a shrinking budget. This article explores some of the…

Explores the similarities, differences, and emerging trends among the fields of human performance technology, electronic performance support systems, technical communications, and instructional design to gain insights into how their evolution affects performance support. The tension between designed messages and tools, which allows users more…

Describes trends affecting both knowledge workers and the performance technologists who support them. Five strategies are suggested for providing performance support: (1) address systems-level issues; (2) align performance technology efforts with technological imperatives; (3) provide information filters; (4) provide custom tools; and (5) make…

Discussion of human performance technology focuses on training and performance improvement. Highlights include performance maintenance; environmental influences that can affect performance; and the evolving role of human performance technology, including feedback, evaluation, and design efforts. (LRW)

Discusses issues related to training and performance improvement, including practice required for skill learning; knowledge versus skills; core skills; competence; learning to learn; team orientation; enabling business results; interpersonal and conceptual skills; timing; focusing on priorities; organizational learning and management…

Examines the concept of human capital, including how it is linked to strategic analysis and how it relates to four alternative models for return-on-investment (ROI). Discusses how to choose the best model for ROI justification of training or other human performance technology (HPT) interventions. (AEF)

Improving performance in the medical industry is an area that is ideally suited for the tools advocated by the International Society of Performance Improvement (ISPI). This paper describes an application of the tools that have been developed by Dale Brethower and Geary Rummler, two pillars of the performance improvement industry. It allows the…

Stephen Downes visits Robin Good's Master NewMedia, a Web site dedicated to Web 2.0 in both thought and deed. The site both utilizes the design principles and technologies central to the concept of Web 2.0--relentless referencing, cross-referencing, and linking to a wide variety of articles from across the Web; a fluid and often chaotic…

At 81 years old, Robert F. (Bob) Mager is the granddaddy of modern performance analysis and instructional design techniques. Although he has retired from the profession, he is still actively learning. He is currently working on his fourth novel, and is also an award-winning ventriloquist and is taking flamenco lessons. Perhaps best known in the…

Ordinary performance improvement tips, techniques, and principles that are taken for granted today have their roots in extraordinary research. Today, the learning principle that states that things that occur together tend to be recalled together is widely accepted, and this principle of association as an instructional technique is often used. How…

Past and present research has provided evidence to support the claim that technologies for teaching and learning must be pedagogically sound. However, educational technologies are also part of a complex process involving the people in the implementation of the innovation. In this paper, I review existing research and explain what both of those…

The Virtual Pre-Incubator Accelerator (ViPiA) is a two-year project funded by the European Commission. The main goal of the programme is to create a training package for would-be entrepreneurs to assist them in developing their new venture concepts to a level at which they become attractive to potential investors. This paper describes and…

Organisations are continuously challenged to become more strategic, productive and cost-effective. As a result, quality management has become increasingly important to achieve desired organisational performance outcomes. Quality management considers leadership an important component to implement and sustain quality products and services to…