The Case for Curation as a Service: Unlocking Tacit Knowledge Through YouTube

The Case for Curation as a Service: Unlocking Tacit Knowledge Through YouTube

In today's digital age, we are constantly bombarded with an overwhelming amount of content. It can be difficult to separate the valuable information from the noise. This is where curators come in - they act as life preservers for the web, saving us from drowning in the sea of information. Curators are individuals who have a deep knowledge or obsession with a particular topic, allowing them to sift through the garbage and collect the gems.

Good curators go above and beyond to find the best resources on a given topic. They spend countless hours scouring the web, searching for high-quality content that is worth our time. But it's not just about quantity, it's about quality. A good curator knows how to filter out the noise and present the information in a readable and digestible manner.

One platform that has revolutionized knowledge transfer is YouTube. While search engines are critical in terms of storing valuable content, YouTube has unlocked a new form of mass-scale tacit knowledge transmission. Tacit knowledge refers to knowledge that can't be properly transmitted through verbal or written instruction. It includes skills such as creating great art or assessing a startup.

Before video became widely available, tacit knowledge had to be transmitted in person. The learner would closely observe the knowledge in action and learn in real-time. This created a unique succession problem - how do you pass on knowledge that can only be learned through personal observation? This limitation also hindered the centralization of knowledge, as decentralized players had an advantage due to their access to skilled individuals.

However, with the advent of YouTube and the availability of video recordings, this problem has been partially solved. Learners can now partially replicate the master-apprentice relationship through these videos. This opens up skill domains and economic niches that were previously only accessible through personal connections. The unflinching eye of the camera captures what even experimental scientists might not know they know, providing a window to distant collaborators.

The availability of video recordings also has implications for the scientific community. It allows for a truly open science, going beyond methods like preregistration and sharing source code and data sets. By capturing the tacit knowledge of practitioners in action, we can enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing on a global scale.

In conclusion, curation as a service and the rise of YouTube as a platform for tacit knowledge transmission have had a significant impact on our access to valuable information. Curators play a crucial role in filtering out the noise and presenting us with the best resources. YouTube has unlocked the potential for mass-scale knowledge transfer, enabling learners to partially replicate the master-apprentice relationship. This has opened up new skill domains and economic opportunities, while also enhancing collaboration in the scientific community.

Actionable advice:

1. Seek out reputable curators in your areas of interest. They can save you time and energy by providing curated content.
2. Utilize YouTube as a resource for learning and skill development. Look for videos that showcase practitioners in action, allowing you to observe and learn from their expertise.
3. Consider becoming a curator yourself. Share your knowledge and insights with others by curating valuable resources and creating educational content.

By leveraging the power of curation and platforms like YouTube, we can navigate the vast sea of information and unlock the hidden gems of knowledge that would have otherwise been lost. Curators and YouTube have given us the tools to access and transmit tacit knowledge on a scale never seen before. Let's embrace these opportunities and continue to learn and grow in this digital age.