A cluster of ideas collided this week:
Defining KM Terms
I was in a meeting where we discussed definitions of knowledge management (KM) terms—potentially as a foundation for an ontology or knowledge graph, or simply to promote more consistent use of terminology among KM professionals. I’m not a fan of protracted debates about definitions, but a sub-group involved in this project is focused on Personal Knowledge Management (PKM). I felt I might be able to contribute meaningfully in that space.
Designing a PKM Course and Mapping
I’m slowly developing a course titled Organizing What You Know: A Practical Guide to Personal Knowledge Management. In this context, I’m hesitant to use the term Personal Knowledge Management too casually. The target audience—while highly educated and experienced—is unlikely to be familiar with KM terminology. If I use such terms, I’ll need to explain them clearly, perhaps even include a brief glossary.I’ve also been working on a few customized mind maps and concept maps for the course, which put me back in a concept mapping mindset.
Speculating about PKM
For my novel-in-progress, I’ve been researching various aspects of technological evolution—especially those that impact individuals’ daily lives. Since the central theme of the novel is Knowledge Legacy, the leap from PKM in 2025 to PKM in 2065 is a fascinating one to explore.
All of that led to:
- A New Map: Personal Knowledge Management 2025–2065
It captures key terms related to the fundamentals of PKM in 2025, alongside three sets of terms that reflect possible PKM futures in 2065. The 2065 terms are directly tied to the novel’s worldbuilding, so they’re not intended as a comprehensive forecast of PKM in 2065.
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Definitions
Given the imagined technological leaps between 2025 and 2065, many terms on the map need explanation. I have definitions for most terms though some -- the terms and the definitions -- are very speculative. -
Connections: To avoid visual overload—it’s already quite a busy map—I’ve only added a handful of cross-topic connections, marked in red.
PKM 2025-2065
