Trends in Instructional Technology: Educational Reform and Electronic Performance Support Systems

As society moves into the information age, changes need to be made in the educational process to ensure that students will have the skills they will need in the changing workplace. By keeping abreast of the changes in society, education, and training, instructional technology professionals can play a key role in restructuring the educational system. This paper addresses two trends in the educational reform movement: integrating electronic technology in the classroom and the uses of electronic performance support systems (EPSS) as a tool for promoting training and support in education and in the workplace. An EPSS is an integrated electronic system that provides training and support at the moment of need for the employee. The concept of EPSS is examined, as well as its place in the educational process. Finally, the software development process and the need for change with the advent of such trends as EPSS are discussed. (Contains 40 references.) (Author/JLB)