Job Aid Template
Title
Best Practices for Job Aids: Designing job aids is not difficult so long as you keep in mind, that they are first and foremost tools for use in the work environment.
1. Design for how the job aid will be used.
If a job aid will be used to guide a learner in performing a procedure on the computer screen, keep it compact so it does not cover too much of the learners work area.
2. Keep job aids compact and concise.
As a rule, design the job aid so it fits in a single scrolling zone of the browser.
3. If printing out, format for paper.
Try and fit everything on a single sheet of paper. Consider formatting the printable version in PDF format do that you can control the layout more precisely.
4. Make job aids stand alone.
A job aid should work outside the context of your eLearning and should not require extensive training to use.
5. Do not make job aids into tutorials.
A job aid is not a training tool. Making it into one destroys the unique value it has as a job aid. Use job aids to supplement and complement training, but not as training.
6. Use job aids to simply eLearning.
Just as job aids simplify work, so too can they simplify taking eLearning. Use calculators to relieve learners of having to make tedious calculations. Use reference summaries and task- specific instructions to guide them in using tools within your eLearning.
7. Replace courses with job aids.
Do not develop a course if all people need is a job aid. Do not teach formulas if a calculator eliminates the need to learn the formulas. Do not teach concepts and terms if a glossary is what people really need. Instead, teach how to use the job aid and you may not need to teach the theory, concepts, procedures, principles, and other details encapsulated by the job aid.
8. Do not short-circuit learning.
If you really need to teach a concept of procedure, teach it, and then give the job aid out to learners.
9. Use job aids as mementos.
Give learners job aids that they can continue using after class. These will be reminders of what they learned.
10. Combine job aids with other activities.
Use job aids to simplify activities. Combine practice activities with reference summaries and checklists.
11. Use images.
The human brain remembers and processes images much faster than words. Do not be afraid to use color, images and arrows.
Best Practices for Job Aids: Designing job aids is not difficult so long as you keep in mind, that they are first and foremost tools for use in the work environment.
1. Design for how the job aid will be used.
If a job aid will be used to guide a learner in performing a procedure on the computer screen, keep it compact so it does not cover too much of the learners work area.
2. Keep job aids compact and concise.
As a rule, design the job aid so it fits in a single scrolling zone of the browser.
3. If printing out, format for paper.
Try and fit everything on a single sheet of paper. Consider formatting the printable version in PDF format do that you can control the layout more precisely.
4. Make job aids stand alone.
A job aid should work outside the context of your eLearning and should not require extensive training to use.
5. Do not make job aids into tutorials.
A job aid is not a training tool. Making it into one destroys the unique value it has as a job aid. Use job aids to supplement and complement training, but not as training.
6. Use job aids to simply eLearning.
Just as job aids simplify work, so too can they simplify taking eLearning. Use calculators to relieve learners of having to make tedious calculations. Use reference summaries and task- specific instructions to guide them in using tools within your eLearning.
7. Replace courses with job aids.
Do not develop a course if all people need is a job aid. Do not teach formulas if a calculator eliminates the need to learn the formulas. Do not teach concepts and terms if a glossary is what people really need. Instead, teach how to use the job aid and you may not need to teach the theory, concepts, procedures, principles, and other details encapsulated by the job aid.
8. Do not short-circuit learning.
If you really need to teach a concept of procedure, teach it, and then give the job aid out to learners.
9. Use job aids as mementos.
Give learners job aids that they can continue using after class. These will be reminders of what they learned.
10. Combine job aids with other activities.
Use job aids to simplify activities. Combine practice activities with reference summaries and checklists.
11. Use images.
The human brain remembers and processes images much faster than words. Do not be afraid to use color, images and arrows.