Standards of task performance are absolutely vital. Task standards define the criteria that will be used to measure whether or not the trainee can perform the task under real world conditions. There are two broad categories of standards:
1.Those designed to measure the process or methods applied to doing the action.
2.Those designed to measure the product, or quality of the result.
When you are looking for standards of a task, think about how you would judge whether or not an individual performed the task well enough to be judged qualified.
First, consider the task process: What would you look for while the trainee is doing the task to assure yourself that he or she is conducting the steps properly?
Next, consider the result, or product of the task. What characteristics would you expect to be present to assure yourself that the task is completely done, and represents the quality you expect?
Example Task Standards
Some of the standards apply to the process of conducting the task. The others apply to a judgment of the product, or results.
Here are example standards for a task:
•The repair steps are performed in the proper sequence, as documented in procedure 127A. [process standard]
•All scrap and excess materials are carefully placed safely out of the way throughout the process. [process standard]
•The holes are drilled slowly enough to prevent undetectable scorching or cracking of the metal or from damaging the temper of the drill bit. [process standard]
•All contaminated debris is carefully bagged, and tagged in accordance with hazardous waste procedures. [product standard]
•The pump operates at the proper GPM volume when done. [product standard]
•There are no unusual sounds or vibrations detected in the repaired pump. [product standard]
•The trainee required no assistance, and performed the steps correctly on the first try. [process standard]
As you can see, some of the standards apply to the process of conducting the task. The others apply to a judgment of the product, or results.
How Standards are Used and Why they are Important
Without identifying the standards of performance that you expect of trainees, you have no real way to judge whether or not a trainee is qualified. This leaves wide open the unsettling possibility that trainees will not be judged with consistency. Without standards, one evaluator may say a trainee has performed a given task to an acceptable level of proficiency, while another evaluator may not agree.
Standards are used to:
1.Help a task analyst to identify skill and knowledge components required to understand and perform a given task.
2.They document the level of proficiency that must be attained in order for a trainee to be qualified. Usually, standards appear on task qualification checklists and other documents so that every evaluator will judge a trainee with consistency.
3.Documented standards can be used as a tangible baseline against which an organization can continually improve the bottom line. Training can have a direct and measurable impact on business goals by visiting and perhaps upgrading task standards through continual training.
Clear and measurable standards are one of the most important aspects of your training and evaluation program. If you decide to cut corners, don't do it here!
Identify Skill and Knowledge Components
Standards help identify skill and knowledge components
For example, let's say you identify a task standard:
"The holes are drilled slowly enough to prevent undetectable scorching or cracking of the metal or from damaging the temper of the drill bit"
The analyst may choose to add a knowledge component such as:
"Explain the effect that rapid drilling (heat) has on the structure and integrity of metal alloys."
