The third in a series of three articles which looks at some aspects of Knowledge Management.

My previous article provided an overview of what Knowledge Management might be.  The following attempts to demonstrate the relationship between Knowledge Management and e-Learning.

Rosenberg(2001) describes e-Learning as using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to provide a broad array of solutions to enhance knowledge and performance, ie learning and training. For those of us traditionally involved with distance education and training, or more specifically, training those at a distance, ICT provides tools to enhance and improve our distance and/or flexible methodologies.

Barron (2000), looks at the convergence of Knowledge Management and e-Learning as a technology-fuelled creature:

“a beast (which) combines formal training as represented by e-Learning, and the free-floating knowledge swirling through organisations that knowledge management practices seek to snare and share”.

While e-Learning is seen by organisations, and especially by education and training organisations, as a strategic tool to enhance their core business, Knowledge Management is only now being considered as a management tool for achieving this. (See Diagram 1).

So which Knowledge Management tools can enhance e-Learning?

Those same tools which allow organisations to capture, store, share and enhance organisational knowledge, can be used for creating, enhancing and delivering learning and training to students. 

• Shared spaces used in a Knowledge Management System for collaboration and teamwork, can become the ‘virtual classroom’ for teachers and students to interact, share ideas and learn collaboratively.
  
• Content Management Systems, and more specifically, Learning Content Management Systems can provide the content repository for learning materials, or more specifically Learning Objects.
  
• Learning Portals will provide the customised interface for a student’s personalised learning experience, where the student will be able to choose the learning that he/she requires, by selecting the “chunks” of learning needed, and linking to the teacher(s) who can facilitate this learning.

Technology, and the use of well-integrated Learning and Management systems will truly provide the vision of “Just-In-Time” and “Just-For-Me” personalised learning which our future students will require.

The Knowledge Management System will capture, store and distribute the knowledge, the e-Learning System will customise, contextualise and deliver this to the students as required.

References:

Barron T, (2000),“A Smarter Frankenstein: The Merging of e-Learning and Knowledge Management”at http://www.learningcircuits.org  accessed 29/05/02

RosenbergM J, (2001),“e-Learning: Strategies for Delivering Knowledge in the Digital Age”McGraw Hill

Other articles in this series: