Basic HTML Version
63
Improving Learning and Performance through Assessment
The Theory of Performance allows us to dissect a performance.
Through this lens, we see that a performance is comprised of
the following dimensions: identity, skills, knowledge, context,
personal factors, and fixed factors. A performer has some
control over all of these, with the exception of fixed factors.
Identity
As individuals mature in a discipline, they take on the shared identity of the
professional community while elevating their own uniqueness. For a learner to
perform well, he or she must have a strong identity as a member of a learning
community. A student demonstrates identity as a learner when engaging in
learning activities, such as attending classes and studying. A student who is
majoring in psychology begins to demonstrate identity within that field by using
the terminology of psychology.
Skills
Skills describe specific actions that are used by individuals, groups, or
organizations in multiple types of performances. Within education, the focus
is on those skills that are transferable across contexts and allow individuals to
improve their mastery of subject matter. These are known as
learning skills
.
Learners who perform well work to increase their mastery of learning skills.
Knowledge
Knowledge involves facts, information, concepts, theories, or principlesacquired
by a person or group through experience or education. You are learning about
the Performance Model right now and are adding to your knowledge with every
word you read.
Context
This component includes variables associated with the situation in which the
individual or organization performs. Each time you perform as a learner, you
do so within a specific context, which includes a number of variables. For
example, your performance in this course has as its context the way you meet
(in a classroom? online?), how often you meet as a class, the length of the
term (a full semester? an intensive summer course?), and so on.
Personal
Factors
This component includes variables associated with the personal situation of
an individual. Your performance as a student depends a great deal upon your
personal factors and your life situation. To use a simple example, how well are
you able to study if you’re tired because you worked late last night? Personal
factors can present a significant challenge to performing well.
Fixed Factors
This component includes variables unique to an individual that cannot be
altered. This is the only aspect of performance that cannot be altered and
includes items such as the first language you learned, color-blindness, etc.
While your performance as a learner is certainly affected by fixed factors.
Assuming that your performance is constrained by these factors is a mistake.
Getting a Handle on Performance:
The Performance Model