ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the process of knowledge transfer amongst online communities of teachers. There is another reason why getting out of our office can help us to manage our own knowledge, and it has nothing to do with other people. The problem is that if we stay in the same environment for long periods, we can get locked into rigid ways of thinking. Some employers support individualized personal development through structured learning programmes. So-called horizontal learning methods position people as active learners, allowing them to get up close to the working knowledge of others and acquire knowledge that is tacit and contextual. Other employers take an unstructured approach, offering paid leave for personal growth undertakings. The chapter proposes four foundational practices for personal knowledge management: scan and reinvent, vet and filter, invest in our networks and get out of our office. The key concept underlying all of these themes is the need to invest in managing our own personal knowledge.
