Human Performance Technology
What do you think Human Performance Technology entails?
When I read “human performance technology” without context, my mind instinctually jumps to technology to help humans perform from a gross motor perspective (walking, running, jumping, sports, etc.). This is due to my background in biomedical engineering, biomechanics, and pediatric orthotics. I have studied biomechanics, human movement, and performance for several years and used tests and materials to measure and improve it. In gross motor movement, we understand that the whole body plus the environment and use history of the person contribute to their performance. There are many factors that affect the outcomes of the interventions we provide. When we discuss pediatric patients, we often look at:
The child’s mood (did they nap today or are they hungry).
What environment are we evaluating them (foreign or familiar)?
What environment are they expected to perform or play in on a daily basis?
Do we have buy-in from the caregivers and will the intervention be accepted?
How will our intervention affect their biomechanics, sensory system, ability to sit or stand, etc.
As I apply this term to the context of learning, my understanding of it is similar. That we need to take a holistic view of our learners and understand all of the pieces at work as we implement and evaluate learning experiences. This includes their past and use history, their environment, motivation, support, etc. Without looking at the bigger picture, we are likely to miss key components and develop learning that does not fully support the learner or lead to optimal outcomes for the organization.
What skills and knowledge do you already have that you feel relate to the content of this course? What do you expect to contribute to this course?
As mentioned above, I have an extensive background in evaluating and implementing solutions for humans (particularly pediatrics) from a biomechanical and functional viewpoint. I have studied human performance and development and take a holistic approach as a clinician and researcher. I have also developed a model for learning that I think will serve as a great foundation for this course.
What do you hope to gain from this course? How do you believe you will use what you learn in this course in your future career?
I am hoping to deepen my understanding of learning and performance in both children and adults and gain a wider perspective for how to implement solutions that meet the needs of learners. As an instructional designer, I think that it is important that I have the tools to help pinpoint issues for an organization that may or not be related to training and education. I believe I will use what I learn in this course to sharpen my model for learning and adapt it for classroom learning.