Human Performance Technology

Define Human Performance Technology› Foundational Aspects› Specific Concepts

Connections with Housing/Residence Life› Higher Education and Student Affairs› Staff and Student Training

Definition› Using an engineering approach to attaining

desired accomplishments from human performers (staff members) Systematic Systemic Grounded in Theory

Organized and applied in a methodical manner meant to be:› Effective› Results-Oriented

Working to create performance improvements for desired results

Not necessarily focused on efficiency Student Staff Supervision:

› Focusing on individual development› Encouraging balance of academic,

paraprofessional, and personal responsibilities

Emphasis on obtaining results Results come in very different formats Residence Hall Environments

› Encouraging being challenged AND creating a “safe” environment for students

HPT focuses on how individuals and groups work within a system, and seeks to consider:› Ethical constraints› Organizations as well as individuals› Interventions› A comprehensive view of the parts of a

system

Existing ethical standards› Adding value to environment› Promoting the use of validated theories› Working collaboratively› Continually developing/improving self› Practicing integrity› Maintaining Confidentiality

Student Affairs› CAS Standards

Understanding that organizations are made up of people

Appreciation of organizational inertia in conjunction with individual influence

Departmental Policies› Managers vs. Staff› Professionals vs. Student Staff

Interventions, both organizationally and individually, serve as targeted tools for specific issues

Student Affairs› Supervision› Conduct› Conflict Resolution/Counseling

HPT considers the individual and the group together

Evaluation of various aspects of a situation/group

Student Development Theories› Overlaying Theories to get holistic

perspective (Baxter Magolda, 2001; Jones & McEwen, 2000)

HPT is grounded in scientific theory and empirical evidence, leading to:› Increased Productivity› Designed and Developed individuals and

groups Focus in Student Affairs on

“Information Based Decision Making

Productivity includes quality and quantity

Provision of value added experiences Justifying Staff Development

› Better relationships› Clearer goals› Greater group unity

Includes preparation of clear plans based on theory and best practices

Student Staff Training› Developing a logical set of training

objectives› Clearly laid out goals

Reframing the discussion Seeing over the University walls We’re not as different as we seem…

HPT offers a structured way of approaching our work in Housing/Student Affairs

Many of our current practices are similar to and can learn from those in the corporate world

Our skills are transferable!

Baxter Magolda, M. (2001). Making their own way: Narratives for transforming higher education to promote self development. Sterling, VA: Stylus.

Evans, N.J., Forney, D.S., & Guido-DiBrito, F. (1998). Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Jones, S.R. and McEwen, M.K. (2000). A conceptual model for multiple dimensions of identity. Journal of College Student Development, 41, 4, 405-414.

Pershing, J.A. (Ed.) (2006). Handbook of human performance technology. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer.