Job Aids

So, in looking for job aid ideas, I found a Job Aid for Job Aids. :) Another good resource I found for Job Aids came from ASTD, which explains different types of job aids, how to analyze a job aid's function, reviews the kind of content that should go in one, and even gives some examples.

So far, I'm leaning towards a job aid for staff in a special education classroom at a high school. Special Education teachers are usually highly trained in handling behavioral problems, however, there are often cases where there would be staff in a special ed classroom who do not have this specialized training (classroom aides, substitute teachers, volunteers, etc). For that reason, a job aid of what to do in cases of behavioral problems would be a useful resource in a special education classroom.

I'm just beginning to learn about the principles of building a job aid, but from my brief research I'm imaging this job aid will most likely best be illustrated using a combination of a step-by-step and a decision table (If a student does x, then you should do y) and/or a flowchart (because the course of action on how to handle a certain behavioral issue really is dependent on varying circumstances).

The type of content I'm thinking of (this is not official, just based on my own thoughts:
Is the student using violent behavior? Yes.

If the student is using violent behavior, first remove the other students from the vicinity.

Is the student hurting him/herself?

If yes, call office security.

If no, wait for 5 minutes and allow the student the opportunity to cool down on his own

etc....

A job aid I kind-of like:

Pros	Cons
color scheme text is clear and easy to read the flow is clear and not complicated; I like how the arrows show the flow either as a one way direction or that the flow of information goes both ways.	I'm not digging the icons. The telephone is so old fashioned (which sometimes can be cool, but this is a technology job aid, so the retro isn't working for me) and I don't care for the "computer". I like the keyboard, but not the monitor.

A job aide I'm not crazy about:

Pros

Cons

I like the humor used I like the start is a green circle; and the end is red (but I'd like it better as either a circle or a stop-sign) I like the box with the title and description of the purpose of the job aid.

Text hard to read; the text on the pics is hard to read and covers up the pics, making them irrelevant, but the black on the gradient text is hard to read too. The black text has too much shading. The only text I like is the white on green. The squiggly lines don't add anything to me, they look squiggly just because, and not for any particular reasons; also, I want them to show the flow with I don't like the mixture of gradient shapes with the solid...be consistent

Other job aids I kind-of like (I searched for flow charts, since that is what I'm thinking of developing):

• Clear and simple


• Consistent shapes for content, with clear flow


• Good choice of graphics, clear flow


• Love it! Interesting topic. Good content. Great use of images. Good clear flow. Good colors. Consistent use of colors for the content. A+


• This is one that is like the Font one below (that I didn't like), but I like this one. The colors work better for me, making it easier to read and follow the logic. And the flow is more clear because their isn't overlap and there is arrows. 

Other job aids I'm not crazy about:

• Bad color, bad flow, too much going on


• I know I should like this one. I really should. The content is interesting to me. The design is simple. I like how they use the name of the font at the end. But I just don't like it. It's just TOO much info in a small space to me. And not enough color...the dotted white lines does not stand out enough on the black background. The flow is hard to follow because they overlap too much, and there are no arrows to show movement. I just don't like it.


• Hate it. This is a job aid on crack. Too much color...too many graphics. Not consistent colors for content blocks. Yuck!


• I mostly like this one...but it needs some tweaks. #1 there is too much unnecessary paragraph text. Instead of typing "If you like (book) then read (book) or (book)" they can accomplish the same things using simple "If you like"/"then read" phrases with the images of the books (which are already there!). Then if they feel necessary, they can just caption the images with the author's name.


• The actual content isn't bad. But the color is AWFUL! Very distracting and hard to read. And I'm positive they could rearrange the blocks in a way to make the flow a little mess manic looking.