AS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF instructional design, job aids are repositories "of information, processes, or perspectives that [are] external to the individual" and they support "work and activity by directing, guiding, and enlightening performance" (Rossett & Gautier-Downes 1991). They enhance performance by storing information useful for a specific performance. This relieves the user from having to remember it all.

There are six formats for job aids: step, worksheet, array, decision-table, flow chart, and checklist. Below are examples of each format; place your mouse cursor over the example for the format’s description and uses.

The step job aid helps the user follow the procedure for choosing wedding flowers.

This worksheet job aid is used for calculating and itemizing wedding costs.

This array job aid shows codes (Uh-Oh #) and their meanings for the identification of a wedding problem.

This decision-table job aid is a problem-solving guide for ushers at a wedding. It tells

them where to seat people.

This flow-chart job aid leads users through the decision-making process of where to hold the wedding.

This checklist job aid serves as a list for what items are needed for the wedding as well as what needs to be accomplished before the wedding date.

Job aids can be used before, during, or after expected performance, but certain people, procedures, and events should not use them.

They should not be used when you expect a fast decision. For example, if a car crosses into your lane, will you have enough time to consult a decision table for an appropriate response? What if your house is on fire?
If a person is an expert in his field he too should not use job aids. Would you want your cardiologist to refer to a step format job aid during your triple bypass surgery?
Lastly, if the job aid will be a distraction to the performance it should not be used. Therefore, pilots should not refer to job aids when landing a plane and Michelle Kwan should not pull one out of her skates to remember what a triple lutz looks like.

Erika Lin Beuerlein, graduate student
SDSU Educational Technology

Graphics by Brittnee Gardner, freelance graphic designer
Graduate of The Art Institute of California

Beuerlein, E.L., & Gardner, B. (2002). The skinny on job aids. In B. Hoffman (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Educational Technology. Retrieved July 16, 2010