Performance Support Tools in Training and Learning

A company whose L&D professionals understand the importance of performance support tools will run a long way. They know that training is not the only solution to improve the learning process. What HR expects from the L&D department is to improve the performance of the employees. This can be achieved by providing training or by performance support. We all know about the learning and training process. Let’s talk about the performance support tools and how they can help our employees to perform better.

What is Performance Support?

Performance support is the facilitated delivery of learning that comprises tools, strategies, and methods. It assists employees with relevant data and instructions to accomplish tasks when needed. It helps employees to do their jobs more efficiently and facilitates better learning. This type of method helps employees with problem-solving, critical thinking, handling situations, and working under pressure. As a result, it focuses on employees completing their tasks and getting work done in time.

Here are some ways we can develop performance support tools and resources for our employees. 

Take small steps 

Quick answers are always sought by people. Developing short portions of content that require a little time to consume such as small articles, blogs, quick reads, and similar bite-sized content will keep the focus on performance support. By reducing the content to its essentials, employees will be better able to focus on their duties.

Maintain Flexibility 

Employees should be permitted to use resources according to their needs. It enables them to customize their content rather than having it personalized for them by you. They will understand better and retain it for a longer time.

Make It Available 

Access to resources should be easy and readily available. It is more likely that information will be used if it is easier to access. Thus, your employees will make the most of it.

Responsive Design 

This is the generation where people rely on smartphones for everything. The use of desktop and laptop has been reduced and the use of mobile devices is preferred. Therefore, content that is responsive to the device is easy to access. The sales team, for example, prefers to take in their learning while on the road, which is perfect for a mobile workforce.

Use of media 

Interactive learning can be implemented by using a learning management system or an LMS. An LMS allows you to use various multimedia including pictures, infographics, video, and other formats. These media will keep your learners engaged. Even if we are trying to provide support for performance, course creators also need to add a few things that learners will enjoy. Check LMS prices by comparing Cornerstone LMS pricing, Docebo pricing, or any other and find the one that suits your needs the best.

Performance Support Tools you can Add

1. Sequential list: This will help the learner to prioritize the task and perform the task in proper order.
2. Flowchart: While assigning a task, a flow chart will give a visual representation of how the task is handled and steps to follow to complete the task.
3. Guide sheet: A brief guide that tells your employee how to handle a particular machine or something new they have no idea about. This guide will help be their go-to document when they need to refer to something.
4. Checklists or to-do Lists: These lists will let them know about the tasks they have completed, under process, and once that need correction. 
5. Audio and video guides: This type of guide will help learners access content according to their preferred learning styles. By creating a how-to video, you can demonstrate the process step-by-step. Similarly, you can add audio notes to provide them with instructions.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that performance support is transforming e-learning and how we conceptualize the learning process. To ensure the best results for your learners, you need to provide the best support. It can range from improving their cognitive abilities with performance support tools or using bite-size learning materials. Our goal is to provide learning support that doesn’t confine itself to a single delivery method. Classrooms and desktop computers are no longer places in which to learn. We need to reevaluate what learners need in their job and responsibility, and then develop learning solutions or performance support tools that will help them progress in their work.