The Lint Trap.

  “Human performance technology is the study and ethical practice of improving productivity in organizations by designing and developing effective interventions that are results-oriented, comprehensive, and systemic” (Pershing, 2006, pg. 6). Pershing warns that no definition will ever be as relevant as it was in the time period it was written but his definition seems all-encompassing. There are a few specific aspects of HPT that stood out to me from Pershing’s detailed explanation of the words used in his definition. HPT is results-oriented—first and last (Pershing, 2006, pg. 13). I have used the very common SMART goal strategy for as long as I can remember. SMART goals force the goal setter to think ahead to analyze the problem being addressed as well as providing a valid way to measure success. Pershing also walks through a model of HPT, the starting point being a void or gap. In the years I have used SMART goals with clients the struggle is never identifying that there is someth...

I find myself circling around to the same things every week from our reading. There are multiple ways to do things and every theory or practice or method or medium tries to put people and learning into oversimplified boxes. Sure media and methods influence learning. Everything we ‘come to the table with’ influences learning. And since no two people are the same so to think that one solution exists is just silly. Should we ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater’? No, of course not! There is much to be gained from seeking an understanding of ourselves as professionals and the people we seek to help through our profession. But at some point, we just have to come to terms with knowing we are putting our best foot forward. That we are making design decisions based on what we know to be the most effective solution. That our designs will never fully be complete because life does not standstill. The methods we used one day will work great for one person and not at all for another. And then ano...

The more we dig into the various theories of learning the muddier the water gets and the more I find myself unclear about where I stand! As with every other week I’ve left trying to figure out how to piece together the various theories and cherry-pick a bit because I simply don’t buy a one size fits all approach. One of my favorite young adult novels is the dystopian story The Giver by Lois Lowry. In the story, there are no real choices to be made. All children at age five are learning and doing the exact same things, and again at six and seven, and so forth. At the ripe age of twelve, they are assigned their role in the community. For the most part, everyone in the community thinks this way of life is great. Those who disagree are punished by being “released” but very few know what happens when someone is released. In the end, the main character realizes what he’s missing out on because of his assigned role in the community and decides the benefits of being the same as everyone else i...