Using knowledge artifacts to support work and learning: a case study

Abstract

This paper introduces a conceptual and computational framework for the design of systems devoted to support situated learning-by-doing within organisations that can be interpreted as a constellation of communities of practice. The leading idea is that the way in which the learning requirements can be identified is to look at the artifacts that communities' members develop to support their work. Due to the extreme heterogeneity of knowledge, information and problem solving strategies that characterise them, an approach based on knowledge-based system has been adopted. Moreover, the framework separates the representation of the core knowledge produced by communities of practice over the years from the problem solving strategies they adopt: in this way, more than one approach to problem solution can be incorporated in the target system.