Building Better Job Aids Workshop Objectives

Describe the User (DU)

Given a need to develop job aids to assist people in performing job related tasks or using a product or service, a blank User Description Worksheet, and a User Description Checklist, describe the individuals who will be using the job aids. Your description (on a completed worksheet) should include, at a minimum:

• any previous formal or informal training (courses, workshops, etc.),
• reading and language ability,
• any previous work/life experience related to the skills to be used,
• education level (secondary school, high school, college, etc.),
• specific skills/knowledge related to the use of the job aids and any supporting training,
• interests in life (what they do in their personal time),
• motivators (i.e., what they perceive as rewarding for a job well done,
• motivational issues (attitudes, expectations, biases toward using job aids in the workplace and during training),
• any cultural characteristics that might impact their use (or non use) of job aids (values, thinking styles, protocols, etc.), and
• any physical characteristics that might impact (positively or negatively) their ability to use job aids.

Describe the Performance Environment (DE)

Given a task to be performed in your area of competence, a blank Performance Environment Worksheet, and a Performance Environment Checklist, describe the performance environment in which the task will be carried out. Your description (on a completed worksheet) must address the following items:

• location (where the performance will take place),
• type of physical facility/plant,
• any equipment used in the performance,
• lighting conditions,
• weather/climatic conditions, and
• any restrictions or other important factors that may affect the performance or the use of the job aid.

Describe the Task (DT)

Given a task in your area of competence, complete a task analysis. The analysis must result in:

• identification of the task title, start and stop points, and
• a complete list of steps (to include all the sequences and relationships between the steps and any decisions required).

Job Aids-Yes or No? (YN)

Given a task in your area of competence, the conditions of performance, and Performance Improvement Decision Tables 1, 2 and 3, determine if training and/or job aids should be developed to assist individuals in performing the task. As applicable, decide on the type(s) of job aids and training that would be most appropriate. Record your decisions accurately and completely on Performance Improvement Worksheet. Your recommendations must be supported by the criteria in the Performance Decision Tables.

Choose the Format for Job Aids (CF)

Given a job-related task, product, or service for which job aids will be developed, a description of the performance environment, analysis data and a description of the intended user, a worksheet and decision table, choose the format for the job aids. The format(s) selected must meet the criteria in the Select PG Format Decision Table and the descriptions recorded on the Select PG Format Worksheet.

Convert Written Text to Job Aids (CT)

Given written text that is being used (or should be used) to assist task performance, convert the text into a usable job aid. The job aid must be understood and easily followed by the intended audience, and be more useful than the original text document.

Write Procedure Guides (WP)

Given a decision to develop a procedure guide, task analysis data, performance environment data, and information on the intended user, draft a procedure guide. The drafted procedure guide must:

• be content-correct according to the task analysis data, and
• meet the design criteria for a procedure guide in the Write Procedure Guides Checklist.

Write Decision-Making Guides (WD)

Given a decision to develop a decision-making guide for a task, task analysis data, performance environment data, and information on the intended user, draft a decision-making guide. The drafted decision-making guide must:

• be content-correct according to the task analysis data, and
• meet the design criteria for a decision-making guide in the Write Decision-Making Guides Checklist.

Write Checklists and Worksheets (WC)

Given a decision to develop a checklist and/or worksheet for one or more tasks, task analyses data, performance environment data, and information on the intended users, draft a checklist and/or worksheet. The drafted checklist and/or worksheet must both:

• be content-correct according to the task analyses data, and
• meet the design criteria for those types of job aids.

Tryout and Revise job Aids (TR)

Given a draft job aid (procedure guide, decision table, checklist, or worksheet) and one representatives of the user audience, a How to Conduct a Tryout job aid and a Job Aid/Training Tryout Journal, test and revise the job aid. The tryout must be conducted according to the criteria in the How to Conduct a Tryout job aid.

Select Materials for Job Aids (SM)

Given a requirement for a job aid, a description of the performance environment and a Select Materials Decision Table, identify the type(s) of materials that should be used for the job aid. The materials selected should be the most appropriate for the defined need and the performance environment and be in accordance with the criteria in the Select Materials Decision Table.

Additional Objective for In-house Workshops Lasting More Than Three Days:

Develop Job Aids for On-the-Job Tasks (OJT)

Given a decision to develop job aids for real-world job tasks, task analyses data, performance environment data, and information on t`he intended users, decide on the format, then draft, tryout, and revise the job aids. The drafted job aids must:

• be content-correct according to the task analysis data,
• be in the most useful format for the intended user,
• meet the design criteria for the type of job aid selected,
• accomplish their intended purpose during the tryout, and
• the tryout must be conducted according to the criteria in the How to Conduct a Tryout job aid.