What Should Instructional Designers & Technologists Know About Human Performance Technology?

TLDR

Human performance technology is increasingly influencing instructional design and technology programs, yet many institutions are uncertain about how extensively to integrate its principles. The study seeks to identify the HPT skills and competencies that IDT graduates should master. An online survey of 24 IDT faculty and 45 members of ISPI and ASTD local chapters was used to rate the importance of these competencies. Results show strong support for embedding HPT concepts in IDT curricula and discuss implications for treating HPT as a distinct specialization.

Abstract

Human performance technology (HPT) is having a significant impact on the field of instructional design and technology (IDT), and many IDT graduate programs now offer training in HPT to their students. However, some IDT programs may be struggling with the extent to which they should incorporate the principles and techniques of HPT into their courses. To provide some determination of which specific skills and competencies in HPT graduates of IDT programs should have, an online survey was administered to 24 IDT faculty members and 45 members of local chapters of the International Society for Performance Improvement and the American Society for Training and Development. Respondents rated the importance of HPT competencies for graduates of IDT programs. Results suggest strong support for the inclusion of HPT concepts in the curricula of IDT graduate programs. Implications of these results for IDT graduate programs, as well as for distinguishing HPT as a field of specialization separate from IDT, are discussed.