How Do Rocket Scientists Learn? (aka, knowledge management lessons learned at Goddard, NASA) - GovLoop

How Do Rocket Scientists Learn? (aka, knowledge management lessons learned at Goddard, NASA) - GovLoop

The success of the things that come out of NASA are a reflection of the knowledge of and collaboration between thousands of brilliant people. NASA’s work is organized around Missions, where individuals from across the center are brought together to work on projects. Knowledge Management plays a crucial role in this process, as it focuses on the better application of collective knowledge to individual problems. At Goddard, the emphasis is on empowering people to share and reflect on what they know best, rather than simply creating systems to compensate for knowledge deficiencies.

Social Media Can Enhance Learning (but relationships matter)

In today's digital age, social media has the potential to greatly enhance learning. However, it is important to understand that the strength of your ties, whether through collaboration or connection, will significantly impact the outcomes. Developing strong relationships is key to obtaining rapid and trustworthy answers, enhancing innovation, and accelerating results on projects. By facilitating different kinds of relationships, both online and offline, individuals can improve their thinking, find quick solutions to complex problems, and ultimately enhance business outcomes.

Learning in Public is Hard, but Worth It

Learning in public can be a challenging process, but the benefits outweigh the difficulties. By openly sharing what you know and don't know during a project, you give others the opportunity to contribute specific knowledge that can help in the moment. This not only saves time and money but also fosters feedback, support, and improvements. The collaborative nature of learning in public leads to better outcomes and a more holistic understanding of the subject matter.

"From note-taking to note-making"

Traditional note-taking methods, such as the Cornell method or using free-flow notes, have shown no significant difference in student performance. Outlining or relying on guided notes provided by teachers also do not offer clear benefits. Note-taking typically occurs while listening, with the goal of quickly capturing content for future reference. On the other hand, note-making is more common during reading and involves actively crafting our own version of information to aid learning and retention.

Note-making is a slower and more involved process that utilizes our own language. As a result, the content becomes easier to understand and remember. This is due to the generation effect, which supports note-making by showing that actively creating information from our own minds leads to better retention compared to passive reading.

To shift from passive collection to active creation, it is important to rephrase the original ideas in your own words. By distilling the concepts into your own language, you not only reinforce understanding but also make the content more personal. Additionally, connecting ideas together is crucial, as memories are rarely formed in isolation. Building upon existing ideas helps to solidify knowledge and create a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

It is essential to view your notes as living documents that require regular review and revision. By continuously coming back to your notes, you can reinforce your understanding, identify areas for improvement, and ensure that the information remains fresh in your mind. Having a note-taking system with back-linking functions can also be helpful, as it allows for easy navigation and referencing between related ideas.

In conclusion, whether in the field of rocket science or education, effective knowledge management and learning strategies are crucial for success. By empowering individuals to share their expertise, fostering strong relationships, and actively engaging in note-making, we can enhance collaboration, innovation, and overall outcomes.