Sometimes Job Aids/Performance Support will lead to learning, and sometimes that’s desirable and at other times it is not.

I first started producing Job Aids in my first job out of college, way back in 1979, at Wickes Lumber. I had been told on Day 1 that that was what we were going to do. Soon we found out that our clients hated that idea. So we simple embedded Job Aids into our Training Materials – 15 minute Videos with Supplementary Materials for Lumber Center management to copy and distribute to the Target Audience.

Here is one handwritten example – before it went to TYPING – something from the old metal file cabinets…on Selling Hardboard Siding…not that this is the best example – but it is what my Training Services Department at Wickes produced in conjunction with the Product Managers in Marketing for the Sales folks in the field…

Back in the Day – 1979 – when I worked in Training Services at Wickes Lumber in Saginaw Michigan – with my co-worked who also had a degree in Radio-TV-Film, John Clark.

Twitter Tweets

I’ve been posting on Twitter for a while now on this – and especially about the FORGETABOUTIT nature of their use.

5 Jan 2010
Is it really LEARNING when you find something online that you need – and then can forgetaboutit? Or is it simply SOURCING? Recall anyone?

25 Mar 2011
If one can “source info” – and then forgetaboutit – is that Learning? Or is it Sourcing? EPSS can blend w Learning – but is not the same.

25 Mar 2011
Performance Competence requires both Learning (recall) and Sourcing (both recall and forgetaboutit). Focus on Performance and Enable That!

2 May 2011
It’s OK to create something for “look-up and then forgetaboutit!” EPSS is most often exactly for that! But don’t call that Learning.

8 Jul 2011
In the moment of need – is it timely or too late for Performance Support (e or otherwise) to enable Resourcing it and then Forgetaboutit?

30 Aug 2012
From my Archives – 2009: Learning vs. Sourcing? wp.me/pYSUe-hW via – EPSS and then (perhaps) Forgetaboutit (Learning is Optional)

12 Oct 2012
Forgetaboutit – Learning vs. Sourcing? wp.me/pYSUe-hW via @guywwallace

25 Oct 2012
Sometimes the Performer doesn’t need to really learn something, they just need to find data/info and then forgetaboutit. #MPS

18 May 2015
Learning involves recall during the moment of need. Sourcing involves getting what you need and then: forgetaboutit. wp.me/pYSUe-hW

21 May 2016
Learning vs. Sourcing? Forgetaboutit. eppic.biz/2009/05/22/lea… via @guywwallace

2 Jun 2016
Is it *Learning* if one looks it up, uses it, and then can and does FORGETABOUTIT? I don’t think so. That’s just good Performance Support.

21 Jul 2017
If one can “source info” and then forgetaboutit – is that Learning? Or is it Sourcing? EPSS can blend w Learning – but is not the same IMO.

21 Jul 2017
Performance Competence requires both Learning (recall) and Sourcing (both recall and forgetaboutit). Focus on Performance and Enable That!

22 Jul 2017
L&D: It’s not for Learning when you create Content for “look-up info & then forgetaboutit!” Especially for dynamic info. It’s Perf Support.

24 Jul 2017
If one can “source info” and then forgetaboutit – is that Learning? Or is it Sourcing? EPSS can blend w Learning – but is not the same IMO.

13 Aug 2017
Performance Competence requires both Learning (recall) and Sourcing – both recall and forgetaboutit. Focus on Performance and Enable That!

3 Nov 2017
L&D: It’s OK to create something for “look-up and then forgetaboutit!” EPSS is most often exactly for that! But don’t call that Learning.

6 Nov 2017
If one can “source info” and then forgetaboutit – is that Learning? Or is it Sourcing? EPSS can blend w Learning – but is not the same IMO.

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7 Dec 2017
L&D: Too often the Means are confused with the Ends. Sometimes a simple Job Aid (or Performance Aid) is all that is really needed.

Perhaps what you produced can be used in the moment and then the Performer can Forgetaboutit.

7 Mar 2018
L&D: Learning in the Workflow – or Using Performance Support and then Forgetaboutit – is OK if there is time and little Risk to Learning while Performing. But that’s not always the case. I take my design guidance from Master Performers from that job category.

10 Mar 2018
L&D: Learning in the Workflow – or Using Performance Support and then Forgetaboutit – is OK if there is time and little Risk to Learning while Performing. But that’s not always the case. I take my design guidance from Master Performers from that job category.

26 Nov 2018
Replying to @guywwallace @shackletonjones @roseg
Sometimes you can look it up and then Forgetaboutit.

30 Nov 2018
Replying to @MirjamN @JaneBozarth
If one can “source info” to guide performance, and then forgetaboutit – is that Learning? Or is it just Sourcing? EPSS can blend w Learning – but is not the same IMO. eppic.biz/2017/07/25/ld-…

1 Dec 2018
Replying to @britz @MirjamN @JaneBozarth
I’d much rather call it PS than Microlearning. With some PS you can source it, use it, and then forgetaboutit. If you used that PS often enough, it might very well facilitate learning. And that PS thing might have been learned abt in a classroom before being used On-the-Job. :)

22 Dec 2018
T&D: It’s not learning if you can simply look it up, use it, and then forgetaboutit. eppic.biz/2017/07/25/ld-…

17 Feb 2019
T&D: When you can look it up and then forgetabout it – that’s not “Learning” – but it is “Instruction.”

Instructional Systems Design – designing a system of instruction – standalone job aids, job aids covered in training, and training for memorization and/or skill development.

22 May 2019
Replying to @myloop_team @ConGott
It might. But Performance is always the end goal, but not necessarily always via Learning: memorization or skills honed to an acceptable level. Sometimes you just refer to the Guidance, and then, forgetaboutit.

21 Feb 2020
Yes – Mobile Learning should have been Mobile Guidance, or Job Aids or Performance Support – to let someone look it up and then … forgetaboutit. So many in the biz are confused.

It’s not about Learning – It’s about Performance.

6 May 2020
T&D: Not all “Job Aids for Performance Guidance & Support in the Workflow” (whew!) require learning to occur. Sometimes you can simply use it to perform Tasks leading to a Worthy Output(s) – and then simply forgetaboutit.

And most recent…

pb-ISD: Job Aids, once known as Guidance, then EPSS, then Quick-Reference-Guides, then Performance Support and WorkFlow Learning – except that Learning might not be a result of their use, as people might Use It and then Forgetaboutit.

Which is okay when your goal is Performance.

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