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

Authors: Stefania Bandini, Federica Petraglia, Fabio Sartori

Addresses: Dipartimento di Informatica, Sistemistica e Comunicazione, Universitа degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Viale Sarca 336/14, Milano, 20126, Italy. ' Dipartimento di Informatica, Sistemistica e Comunicazione, Universitа degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Viale Sarca 336/14, Milano, 20126, Italy. ' Dipartimento di Informatica, Sistemistica e Comunicazione, Universitа degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Viale Sarca 336/14, Milano, 20126, Italy

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.

Keywords: learning by doing; communities of practice; knowledge-based systems; artifacts; artefacts; conceptual frameworks; computational frameworks; system design; heterogeneity; problem solving; core knowledge; information management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2009.031505

International Journal of Knowledge and Learning, 2009 Vol.5 No.5/6, pp.389 - 403

Published online: 08 Feb 2010 *

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