PKM
“To gain knowledge, add things every day; to gain wisdom, subtract things every day.” - Lao Tzu
“[One] who works with the door open gets all kinds of interruptions, but [they] also occasionally gets clues as to what the world is and what might be important.” ― Richard Hamming
I’m a hyperlink maximalist: everything should be a hyperlink, including everything that is hyperlinked by the author, everything that isn’t hyperlinked by the author, and the hyperlinks themselves. Words should be hyperlinked, but so should be every interesting phrase, quote, name, proper noun, paragraph, document, and collection of documents I read. ― the stream
Personal Knowledge Management
The field of PKM emerged in the 1990s to help university students handle the huge volume of information they suddenly had access to through Internet-connected libraries. It is the individual counterpart to Knowledge Management, which studies how companies and other organizations make use of their knowledge.
Bisociation
Bisociation is the simultaneous mental association of an idea or object with two fields ordinarily not regarded as related. It calls for unconventional thinking that aims to remove common beliefs and repetitive thought processes, and examples include linking one idea with two different contexts or connecting an idea with two separate fields.
The aim is to avoid alterations to existing ideas and to create transformations instead.
Bisociation is a term coined by the psychologist and writer Arthur Koestler to describe the process of combining seemingly unrelated or incompatible ideas, concepts, or experiences in a way that creates a new and novel perspective or understanding. According to Koestler, bisociation requires the ability to see connections and patterns between unrelated things, and to be open to the possibility of making connections that may not be immediately obvious.
Second Brain
The term “second brain” is often used to refer to a personal system or platform that a person uses to collect, organize, and reflect on their thoughts, ideas, and information. This might include things like a digital garden, a personal website, a note-taking app, or even a physical notebook or journal. The idea is that these tools can serve as an external “brain” where a person can store and organize their knowledge, much like the brain in their skull stores and processes information. By using a second brain, a person can more easily access and reflect on their knowledge, and can also share it with others if they choose to.
Digital Garden
A digital garden is a term used to describe an online space where a person can collect, organize, and cultivate their thoughts, ideas, and writing in a non-linear and organic way. It is typically a personal website or platform where a person can curate and grow their digital content in a way that resembles the process of gardening, with the website itself serving as the garden. Digital gardens are often used as a tool for personal reflection, self-expression, and creativity, and can be a helpful tool for organizing and sharing one’s thoughts and ideas online.
Some recommendations from #genAI/chatgpt :
- Integrate spaced repetition: Incorporate a spaced repetition system like Anki to help reinforce and retain the knowledge you acquire. Create flashcards for important concepts, quotes, or facts, and review them regularly to improve recall.
- Leverage automation: Implement automation tools, like IFTTT or Zapier, to streamline the process of capturing and organizing information. For example, you can automatically save articles or tweets to a specific folder or note.
- Set regular reviews: Schedule periodic reviews of your notes to ensure they remain relevant and up-to-date. During these reviews, you can archive outdated information, update existing notes, and identify gaps in your knowledge.
- Connect with other PKM users: Engage with other individuals who maintain personal wikis or knowledge management systems. You can share ideas, learn from their experiences, and collaborate on projects or resources.
- Create project-based notes: Organize notes around specific projects or goals you’re working on, such as learning a new skill, launching a business, or completing a course. This can help you focus your learning and track your progress more effectively.
- Teach others: Share your knowledge with others, either informally through conversations or more formally through workshops, presentations, or tutoring. Teaching can help solidify your understanding, identify gaps in your knowledge, and develop your communication skills.
- Embrace serendipity: Allow for spontaneous discovery and learning by occasionally exploring topics outside of your usual interests. This can help you broaden your horizons, discover new passions, and encourage creative thinking.
- Collaborative learning: Connect with other digital gardeners or PKM users to form a learning group or community. You can collaborate on shared resources, discuss your systems, and provide mutual support and encouragement.
- Diversify your input sources: Deliberately seek out non-traditional or underrepresented sources of information, such as independent authors, podcasts, or international perspectives. This can help you gain a broader understanding of various topics and avoid echo chambers.
- Experiment with different media: Incorporate other media types into your digital garden, such as images, videos, or audio recordings. This can help you create a more engaging and immersive learning experience.
- Engage in creative synthesis: Challenge yourself to combine seemingly unrelated ideas or concepts into new, original insights. This can help you develop your creativity and foster innovative thinking.
- Employ storytelling techniques: Organize your notes around narratives or stories to make them more engaging and memorable. This can help you better understand complex ideas and more effectively communicate your knowledge to others.
- Conduct regular self-assessments: Periodically evaluate your learning progress and knowledge gaps by testing yourself with quizzes or creating self-assessments. This can help you stay accountable and identify areas for improvement.
- Create challenges or “quests” for yourself: Develop personal challenges or “quests” related to your learning goals, such as completing a specific project, mastering a new skill, or exploring a new topic. This can help you stay motivated and add an element of fun to your learning process.
- Incorporate reflective practices: Engage in regular reflective practices, such as journaling, meditation, or mindfulness exercises, to help you process your thoughts and experiences. This can help you develop greater self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and resilience.