“Support comes in various shapes and sizes, it can also be a simple checklist. Here’s the one I use.”
Ger’s Learning notes #18
Performance Support
Without realising it, you use a lot of performance support every day. This support comes in various shapes and sizes. I’ll be attending the Fishbowl event in London next week, and I’ll be taking the underground to get there. A good example of performance support is the text on the floor:
Another performance support example that saved my life more than once while in London is the text on the pavement 'Look right', just before you cross the street.
As performance support can also be a simple checklist, here’s the one I use to create the learning notes:
Learning Notes Performance Support Checklist
[x] Review my Evernote folder on resources that I recently gathered.
[x] Select four interesting resources on Performance Support for Learning Notes 18.
[x] Write a short intro for each of the notes.
[x] Add the Twitter handles of the authors, so that readers can connect.
[x] Provide a short, personal review of the highlights and value of each resource.
[x] Select a relevant picture to be used to accompany this edition and send it to my colleague, Nick.
[x] Write an introduction text to my readers - adjust the style according to the topic covered.
[x] Send all the content to my colleague, Corjan, to improve it all with ‘his magic’.
[x] Ask Nick and Corjan to get all the stuff online and send it to readers - and, of course, thank them for it!
[x] Ask readers for feedback and suggestions (on topics, format etc.).
[x] Share the new learning notes via Social Media channels.
[x] Include the names of the original creators of the resources in Tweets, to inform and thank them for the good stuff they created.
[x] Enjoy the fact that this work is done!
[x] Start gathering new resources and ideas for the next version of the learning notes.
(1) The importance and value of the checklist by Atul Gawande (TED talk)
by Atul Gawande @Atul_Gawande
What’s it about?
Atul Gawande explains the power of the checklist – how it can improve performance (and save lives!). Improving performance using checklists can be much more effective than learning/training; it can also be an important ‘add-on’ for highly skilled professionals.
Why read it?
- You’ll be surprised by the magnificent results Gawande and his colleagues managed to achieve by applying checklists in healthcare (He is a surgeon.).
Gawande also provides inspiring examples of the successful application of checklists in other professional areas. - Watch it as a ‘primer’, and then read his book, ‘The Checklist Manifesto’.
- aNewSpring provides a specific functionality to create checklists! See the info at the bottom of this page. Combine it with the new QR code functionality, and Atul Gawande will be proud of you!
Where to find it?
(2) The anatomy of the modern learning professional
by Nick Shackleton-Jones @shackletonjones
What’s it about?
Nick Shackleton-Jones has been sharing his thoughts on ‘moving from courses to resources’ for many years now. In this overview, he presents a practical overview of examples of resources that can be used. I like that he added ‘experiences’ to his latest thinking.
Why read it?
- Broaden your scope to prevent yourself from ‘walking into the learning trap’ too easily.
- See how you can add additional – likely even more – value as a learning designer when you create performance support and experiences.
- See 24 examples of performance support ideas in the infographic (and yes – the use of an infographic is one of them!), and get 30 examples of experience design for free!
Where to find it?
(3) The 70:20:10 performance support storm
by Jos Arets (@AretsJos), Charles Jennings (@charlesjennings) and Vivian Heijnen (@VivianHeijnen)
What’s it about?
The Performance Support Storm is a part (chapter 3) of a larger document called ‘70:20:10 into action’. It puts performance support in a wider (70:20:10 framework) perspective.
Why read it?
- The article gives some some essential background on the basics of performance support.
- I very much like the checklist that is included. It helps you to explore (I should say ‘check’) and identify when performance support is an opportunity.
- The checklist and the whole chapter gives references to the ‘grandmasters’ of performance support (Gery, Mosher, Gottfredson, Rosenberg and Rosset), so be sure to have a look at all the references at the end of the article.
Where to find it?
(4) My 3 favorite low-tech performance support examples
By me @GerDriesen
What’s it about?
There are many brilliant performance support solutions that are ‘low tech’ but very effective. See four pictures and get inspired about your low-tech performance support solution.
Why read it?
- Picture 1: shows a low-tech, wearable, performance support example. I’m sure you even wear one yourself right now. And more magic – it is always available at ‘the moment of need’.
- Picture 2: a really nice vintage performance support example. My friend, Michelle Ockers, recently reintroduced this one at Quantas after I shared it with her.
- Picture 3: embedded low-tech performance support. Right where you need it – integrated with your workplace tabletop where you have to perform your task. In this case, leading to ‘yummy’ results.
Where to find it?
Ger Driesen
Loves to connect people, ideas and inspiration in the global learning community.
On the wish-list to learn: Forging (yes, as forging steel)
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