Performance Support Job Aid
School staff must be able to respond immediately and correctly during safety incidents. In high-stress situations, lengthy manuals or training modules are ineffective. The organization needed a clear, visual, at-a-glance job aid that staff could quickly reference to distinguish between different lockdown levels and follow the correct procedures without hesitation.
The goal was to reduce confusion, ensure consistent responses across classrooms, and support rapid decision-making under pressure.
Primary Audience
Teachers
Support staff
School administrators
Key Constraints
High-stress, time-critical situations
Limited cognitive bandwidth during emergencies
Need for instant clarity with no interpretation required
Must be usable without technology or LMS access
This job aid had to function as performance support, not training content.
I designed this job aid as the lead instructional designer, responsible for:
Analyzing emergency procedures and identifying critical decision points
Translating policy language into plain-language, action-oriented steps
Structuring information to support rapid visual scanning
Ensuring consistency across lockdown levels
Designing for clarity, accessibility, and immediate usability
Instructional / Performance Strategy
This job aid was intentionally designed using performance support principles, not instructional sequencing.
Key design decisions included:
Level-based organization (Levels 1, 2, and 3) to eliminate ambiguity
Consistent structure across levels so staff can quickly compare actions
Command-style language to reduce hesitation (“Close and lock all doors,” “Remain silent”)
Minimal text with high visual hierarchy to support fast recognition
Clear differentiation between:
External threats
Potential internal threats
Immediate internal threats
The design supports recognition over recall, which is critical during emergencies.
Design process included:
Task analysis of lockdown procedures
Identification of must-do vs. nice-to-know actions
Information mapping to ensure logical flow
Iterative layout refinement for readability and scanning
Alignment with existing emergency protocols
This ensured the job aid reinforced official procedures while remaining usable in real-world conditions.
Tools Used
Canva – layout, typography, visual hierarchy
Plain-language editing techniques
Visual communication and information design principles
Results & Impact
This job aid:
Provides immediate procedural clarity during emergencies
Reduces cognitive load by eliminating unnecessary detail
Supports consistent staff responses across classrooms and roles
Serves as an effective just-in-time reference when training cannot be accessed
It complements formal safety training by acting as a critical moment-of-need resource.
Evaluation & Use
Effectiveness can be evaluated through:
Safety drill observations
Staff feedback on clarity and usability
Reduction in procedural errors during drills
Administrative review during annual safety audits
Reflections & Iterations
Future enhancements could include:
Color-coding by lockdown level for even faster recognition
Versions optimized for wall posters vs. desk references
Scenario-based microlearning tied to each lockdown level
Multilingual versions for broader accessibility