Knowledge capture helps with the development of learning strategies to identify the knowledge, skills and attitudes learners need to obtain to perform their job tasks well and safely.
Watch the What is Knowledge Capture video here.
What types of knowledge can be captured?
- Functions
- Tasks
- Methods
- Skillsets
- Expertise
- Culture
- Context
- Decision making
The knowledge capture process involves developing a list of questions and answers pertaining to a specific subject matter. Ultimately, these questions will provide the critical content necessary to perform specific activities and tasks. Therefore, detailed answers must be provided in order for the content to be understood and applied by the learner.
The questions and answers are formatted into a Knowledge Capture Document (KCD) and are then sorted into appropriate categories. The categories and information, when combined, represent all the information that must be learned to perform the specific activities and tasks associated with the job.
The KCD is created in collaboration with the Subject Matter Expert (SME) and the Knowledge Capture Expert (KCE). It is essential that a good rapport be established and that communication is ongoing and consistent as critical and time-sensitive training information is being produced. The KCD is produced to determine instructional goals, key lessons, important content, learning activities and assessments.
The information gathered during the knowledge capture session is vitally important to the technical writers, instructional designers and graphic artists that work on creating competency development and learning solutions.
How can knowledge capture be applied to a real life situation?
Let’s take a look at how knowledge can be captured and transferred. Imagine there is a need to create a learning solution to teach new operators the necessary skills to perform a variety of tasks within a gas processing facility. During the knowledge capture stage, the knowledge capture expert guides the subject matter expert in composing questions focused on the tasks the operators will be performing in the plant. The knowledge the operators require enables them to perform daily checks, understand procedures and protocols, recognize when a process is outside of normal operating parameters, read gauges and most importantly understand all safety practices to stay safe.
The knowledge capture process often involves breaking operations down into smaller components, and insuring all areas, tasks and performance outcomes are covered. It also involves capturing potential negative outcomes; that is how to respond to process upsets.
The captured information is then formatted into a knowledge capture document and passed on to a design team which is made up of instructional designers, graphic artists and technical writers. The information is then transferred into a learning solution that can take the form of an online self-paced course, a training guide or a reference manual.
This approach to knowledge capture ensures that all employees obtain knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are necessary to perform their job tasks and activities well and safely.