The personal learning matrix

A personal learning matrix reminds people of the sources of knowledge available to them.

The matrix shown above is inspired by a really interesting blog post entitled "how rocket scientists learn" by Yasmin Fodil from NASA. Yasmin points out that 

Knowledge management is about the better application of collective knowledge to the individual problem. 

She includes a matrix, similar to the one above, to show the sources of collective knowledge available to knowledge workers, and the means by which they can access that knowledge. I particularly like the fact that is the whole matrix is pull-driven - "Who can I learn from", "What can I learn", "How can I learn it" - all driven by knowledge-seeking.

It's like a "seekers guide to knowledge sources". I like the concept, and have created the matrix here as an extension of Yasmin's example. 

This is refreshingly different from the more normal "who can I share with", "where shall I store this" conversation. It's like a personal Knowledge Management Plan - all that's missing is the "What do I need to learn" element. It would be a useful chart to stick on the wall during a Knowledge Gap Analysis or Knowledge Management Planning session.

A table like this would be a good reminder to all knowledge workers in the organisation of the sources of knowledge available to them, and the means at their disposal to access that knowledge.