Personal Knowledge Management And Student Learning

Stuart Garner

doi:10.19030/jber.v8i12.779

Abstract

Students who undertake courses of study at colleges and universities are generally more successful in their learning outcomes if they are able to manage their personal knowledge well and effectively. This paper begins by discussing the meaning of personal knowledge management (PKM) and how it relates to teaching and learning, particularly to a commonly used instructional design framework. Some of the electronic tools that students might utilise are then discussed. Finally several electronic tools that might prove useful to students to aid their PKM are suggested.

Highlights

W ith the rapid changes in the use of technology, student learning has changed as there is a need for students to collect information from multiple resources
This paper discusses what personal knowledge management (PKM) is and how it is associated with student learning
In order to understand the association between PKM and learning, it is helpful to make use of a learning framework as this can clarify the sources of information and the tasks that students commonly undertake

Summary

INTRODUCTION

W ith the rapid changes in the use of technology, student learning has changed as there is a need for students to collect information from multiple resources. Because of the vast amounts of information that students collect when learning, there is a need for them to organise their materials in a sensible manner, in effect managing their personal knowledge. It is difficult to define knowledge accurately, it is generally agreed that knowledge is an organised combination of ideas, rules, procedures and information [1] When students learn, they gather information and construct knowledge based on the knowledge that they already have. They are constantly adjusting their internal schemata and mental models as they transform information into knowledge This is why constructivism is so important in teaching and learning as tutors look to ways to help students construct knowledge in the subject that is being "learnt" [3, 11]. It is suggested that there are seven components of PKM [2]: (1) retrieving information; (2) evaluating/assessing information; (3) organising information; (4) analysing information; (5) presenting information; (6) securing information; and (7) collaborating around information

PKM AND TEACHING AND LEARNING

TOOLS FOR USE WITH PKM AND LEARNING

DISCUSSION