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Title:
"Knowing Knowledge"
Review:
George Siemens, the author of "Knowing Knowledge", does not seek to define knowledge. Rather, he seeks to tackle it. He does this in his book (available for purchase or download http://www.knowingknowledge.com/book.php) by eschewing the typical linear approach most authors take when broaching a topic. Instead, he guides us into the subject as a whole - describing knowledge from different angles or perspectives. Much like the old story about the blindfolded men trying to describe an elephant. One had the trunk, one the tail and one an ear. Each described the elephant based on his own experience, but none had the whole picture.
According to Siemens, knowing and learning take place much the same way today. Knowledge is born through building concept upon concept, mixed with pieces taken from various, and often chaotic, sources. Knowledge comes and is defined through connections not necessarily aligned in a pre-defined, linear format. Knowledge is no longer shaped by categorisation and disseminated through hierarchies.
A major change occurred as we moved from the industrial age into the information age: instead of one-way learning, we want a two-way street, to engage in and reshape the knowledge we find. We want to connect with others to learn what they know, and then make that knowledge our own (blogs, wikis, etc). According to Siemens, doing so diminishes the 'prominence of the originator' (which begs the question, moving forward, of how that will affect the issue of copyright). Knowledge doesn't come solely through static products (books or lesson plans created years before publishing). With the advent of the Internet and 2.0 technologies, knowledge is now rapidly created, shared, developed, accessed and collaborated on through and by the power of networks (contacts). It is a two-way, fluid (editable), active, 'now' exchange.
However, Siemens posits that we are still bound up in industrial-age thinking when it comes to using, disseminating and storing knowledge. 'We stand with our feet in two worlds: one in the models and structures that originated in (and served well) the industrial era, and the second within the emerging processes and functions of knowledge flow in our era today' (p. 5).
As an information professional, I'm inclined to agree. The flow of information/knowledge today is 'dizzying in pace' and exponential in growth. Human beings are addicted to information. We crave it. We have an insatiable drive to learn. Unfortunately, the tools that help us find and use information (to create knowledge) are insufficient. We are bound by their limitations. We spend more time looking for information than actually using it. That needs to change.
Because this cooperative, two-way flow now exists, change is also needed in how organisations look at knowledge, knowing and learning; [the last chapter of this book describes Siemens' 5-step process to design organisations that can 'change and morph as required' in order to 'align with the changed context and characteristics of knowledge' (p. 116)]. Siemens advocates chaos rather than control - with an emphasis on self-directed learning (combined with structured learning - he believes that experts definitely have a place). New tools areneeded to help end-users and organisations weave together the bits and pieces they gather, to 'dialogue, reframe, rethink, connect' and pattern knowledge, as well as manage their identities (what a coup it would be for the software developer or knowledge provider or anyone else who could figure that one out!).
Though a bit difficult to slog through in places, "Knowing Knowledge" is one of those rare books in which the endgame of the author is not necessarily to lead the reader to a pre-formed conclusion. It's purposefully written so that the reader comes to his or her own conclusions on the matter.
FreePint Reviewer:
Marjorie Desgrosseilliers is CEO and Owner of SmartyPants Research Services, LLC, a company that provides ... you guessed it ... research services to business and other information professionals. Due to her experience and tenure within the information industry (over 15 years), she has accumulated a large number of contacts (networks) encompassing many different industries across the US and around the world. Marjorie teaches on telephone research - how to reach information gatekeepers, and how to get information from them once you reach them - at major industry conferences, and at her client companies. You canreach her at marjorie@smartypantsresearch.com
, or on 425-408-0368.
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