Skip to main content
Log in

K12 Practitioners’ Experiences Implementing Human Performance Improvement: Processes, Products, and Potentials

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
TechTrends Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This case study using collaborative autoethnographic methods explores the experiences of two K12 practitioners as they implemented, and continue to implement, human performance improvement (HPI) in their professional practice. The connection between HPI and instructional design and technology is well documented, but there is not much empirical work examining how the HPI process is utilized in K12 organizations. Using practitioner reflections and semi-structured interviews, our team identified three themes that categorized practitioners’ experiences: 1. How practitioners conduct HPI, 2. The outcomes of HPI, and 3. Why one should use HPI. Differences between the two practitioners were also discussed. Overall, we concluded that there is a definitive place for HPI in a K12 setting as it can result in meaningful organizational change, save time when diagnosing problems, and empower educators. We conclude with the realization that not all practitioners will be able to adopt this approach within their organizations seamlessly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abaci, S., & Pershing, J. A. (2017). Research and theory as necessary tools for organizational training and performance improvement practitioners. TechTrends, 61(1), 19–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-016-0123-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arrington, T. L., Moore, A. L., & Bagdy, L. M. (2021). K12 practitioners’ perceptions of learning from failure, creativity, and systems thinking: A collective case study. Tech Trends, 65, 636–645. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-021-00596-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arrington, T. L., Moore, A. L., Steele, K. C., & Klein, J. D. (2022). The value of human performance improvement in instructional design and technology. In J. E. Stefaniak & R. M. Reese (Eds.), The instructional design trainer’s guide: Authentic practices and considerations for mentoring ID and ed tech professionals (1st ed., pp. 161–169). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003109938-16

  • Aument, K., & Conley, Q. (2018). Transforming theory to practice: Integrating evidence-based practices in Human Performance Improvement. Performance Improvement, 57(3), 26–33. https://doi.org/10.1002/pfi.21724

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, H., Ngunjiri, F. W., & Hernandez, K.-A. C. (2013). Collaborative autoethnography. Left Coast Press, Inc.

  • Chanmugam, A., & Gerlach, B. (2013). A co-teaching model for developing future educators’ teaching effectiveness. International Journal of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, 25(1), 110–117. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1016491. Accessed 13 May 2022

  • Dick, W., & Wager, W. (1997). Preparing performance technologists: The role of universities. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 10(1), 55–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1937-8327.1997.tb00030.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foshay, W. R., Villachica, S. W., & Stepich, D. A. (2014). Cousins but not twins: Instructional design and human performance technology in the workplace. In J. M. Spector, M. D. Merrill, J. Elen, & M. Bishop (Eds.), Handbook of research on educational communications and technology. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3185-5_4.

  • Giacumo, L. A., & Breman, J. (2021). Trends and implications of models, frameworks, and approaches used by instructional designers in workplace learning and performance improvement. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 34(2), 131–170. https://doi.org/10.1002/piq.21349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, T. F. (1996). Human competence: Engineering worthy performance. HRD Press.

  • Hirumi, A. (1995). What performance technologists should know about public education: Implications for professional development and training. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 8(4), 89–114. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1937-8327.1995.tb00702.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI). (n.d.) CPT Performance Standards. Retrieved May 13, 2022, https://ispi.org/page/CPTStandards.

  • Kang, S. (2017). What do HPT consultants do for performance analysis? TechTrends, 61(1), 32–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-016-0129-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang, S. P., Huh, Y., & Kim, J. K. (2020). Application of human performance technology (HPT) standards for school teachers in Korea. Asia-Pacific Collaborative Education Journal, 16(1), 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, T. E., Graham, C. R., Picciano, A. G., Popham, J. A., & Wiley, D. (2014). Data-driven decision making in the K-12 classroom. In J. M. Spector, M. D. Merrill, J. Elen, & M. J. Bishop (Eds.), Handbook of research on educational communications and technology (4th ed., pp. 337–346). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3185-5_27

  • Klein, J. D., & Fox, E. J. (2004). Performance improvement competencies for instructional technologists. TechTrends, 48(2), 22–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02762539

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marker, A., Villachica, S. W., Stepich, D. A., Allen, D., & Stanton, L. (2014). An updated framework for human performance improvement in the workplace: The spiral HPI framework. Performance Improvement, 53(1), 10–23. https://doi.org/10.1002/pfi.21389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mardis, M. A., Hofman, E. S., & Rich, P. J. (2014). Trends and issues in qualitative research methods. In J. M. Spector, M. D. Merrill, J. Elen, & M. J. Bishop (Eds.), Handbook of research on educational communications and technology (4th ed., pp. 173–194). Springer.

  • Martin, F., Hall, H. A., IV., Blakely, A., Gayford, M. C., & Gunter, E. (2009). The HPT model applied to a kayak company’s registration process. Performance Improvement, 48(3), 26–35. https://doi.org/10.1002/pfi.20061

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, J. K., Stefaniak, J., & Rich, P. J. (2022). Expecting the unexpected: A collaborative autoethnography of instructors’ experiences teaching advanced Instructional Design. TechTrends, 66(1), 90–101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-021-00677-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medlin, P. L. (1990). Teachers as performance technologists. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 3(4), 34–39. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1937-8327.1990.tb00475.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merriam, S. B. (1988). Case study research in education: A qualitative approach. Jossey-Bass.

  • Mertler, C. A. (2020). Action research: Improving schools and empowering educators (6th ed.). Sage Publications.

  • Moore, A. K., & Kaminski, J. M. (2011). Working with your local school district: A tale of two cities. Performance Improvement, 50(4), 26–30. https://doi.org/10.1002/pfi.20210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, J. (2004). Designing and implementing performance technology for teachers. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 30(2). https://doi.org/10.21432/T2C59J

  • Norqvist, L., & Ärlestig, H. (2020). Systems thinking in school organizations–perspectives from various leadership levels. Journal of Educational Administration, 59(1). https://doi.org/10.1108/jea-02-2020-0031

  • Patton, M. Q., & Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.

  • Pearlstein, R. B. (2012). Why HPT will continue to be a hard sell. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 25(1), 75–84. https://doi.org/10.1002/piq.20132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poulos, C. N. (2021). Essentials of autoethnography. APA. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000222-000.

  • Rothwell, W. J. (2005). Beyond training and development (2nd ed.). AMACOM.

  • Rothwell, W. J., Hohne, C. K., & King, S. B. (2007). Human performance improvement. Butterworth-Heinemann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saldaña, J. (2021). The coding manual for qualitative researchers (4th ed.). Sage.

  • Schifter, C. C., Natarajan, U., Ketelhut, D. J., & Kirchgessner, A. (2014). Data-driven decision making: Facilitating teacher use of student data to inform classroom instruction. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 14(4), 419–432. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1058372. Accessed 13 May 2022

  • Shaked, H., & Schechter, C. (2019). Exploring systems thinking in school principals’ decision-making. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 22(5), 573–596. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2018.1481533

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaked, H., & Schechter, C. (2020). Systems thinking leadership: New explorations for school improvement. Management in Education, 34(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/0892020620907327.

  • Stefaniak, J. E. (2018). Performance Technology. In R. West (Ed.), Foundations of learning and instructional design technology (1st ed.). Available at https://edtechbooks.org/lidtfoundations/performance_technology. Accessed 13 May 2022

  • Stefaniak, J. E. (2021). Needs assessment for learning and performance: Theory, process, and practice. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Tiem, D. M., Moseley, J. L., & Dessinger, J. C. (2012). Fundamentals of performance improvement: Optimizing results through people, process, and organizations (3rd ed.). International Society for Performance Improvement.

  • Yin, R. K. (2003). Case study research: Design and methods (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Logan Arrington.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of Interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Research Involving Human Participants

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Arrington, T.L., Steele, K.C., Moore, A.L. et al. K12 Practitioners’ Experiences Implementing Human Performance Improvement: Processes, Products, and Potentials. TechTrends 67, 32–41 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-022-00774-1

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-022-00774-1

Keywords

Navigation