Effective Job Aids—Instructional Systems Development

Job Aid Mediums

Usually, people think of paper-based job aids: posters hung at eye level in an assembly line, laminated cards perched atop PCs, or flowchart diagrams stuck to cubicle walls. Job aids are not always paper-based, however. They can be audio, visual, a combination of the two, or even in an electronic format as electronic performance support systems (EPSS), which can be quite elaborate. For more information on EPSS, see Info-lines No. 9412, “The Basics of EPSS,” and No. 9501, “Making EPSS Work for Your Organization.”

For example, many restaurants employ several types of job aid mediums. There may be a poster hanging in the kitchen reminding employees of acceptable hygiene practices and posters hanging above the food preparation area ...