A Study On Performance Technology From The Perspective Of Educational Technology

Performance Technology is a new and strange field for many Chinese Instructional Technology scholars and practitioners. In this dissertation,the writer attempts to analyze and discuss Performance Technology from the perspective of Instructional Technology.First, the writer does a systematical and overall review about the research and development of Performance Technology in the U.S., including the basic concepts and definitions of PT,the history and evolution of PT,principles and attributes of PT, the models of PT and the trends of PT. During retrospecting the historical development of American Performance Technology, the writer proposes its three stages: Programmed Instruction, Performance & Instruction and Performance Improvement;then discusses five main factors that affect the history development of Performance Technology:they are Instructional Technology, behavioral psychology,general systems theory, management theory and practiceand the development of technology.Secondly,the writer discusses the relationships between Performance Technology and Instructional Technology.Though PT has a close kinship with Instructional technology,they are two different fields.Based on the comparison,the writer sums up three kinds of similarity and five points of difference between them. While Performance Technology has grown up in the world of workplace, there is no reason why its fundamental principles and many of its processes can not be applied in both educational and social settings. As to the PT's influences on the future development of Instructional Technology.the writer's conclusion is that:Instructional Technology should broaden itself from schooling background to social and other non-educational settings;should move from focusing on tools,resources,processes and methods to learning and working outcomes;from emphasis on instructional solutions to focusing on non-instructional solutions as well as instructional solution;from paying attention to individual learning to larger macro-management concerns and ' systems thinking;from reactive problem solving to proactive approachs. In the mean time,the writer does some reflectings about the Electronic Performance Support Systems(EPSS) movement.As to the development of PT in Chinese Instructional Technology theoryand practice, because of the lack of business and industry environments as a reference from the beginning, it will be very difficult and a long way to understand and practise Performance Technology. Nonetheless,more and more Instructional Technologists begin to pay attention to PT in China now. The writer proposes some suggestions for Chinese Instructional Technologists to apply and practise Performance Technology.