Facilitating educators’ knowledge sharing with dedicated Information Systems

The process of knowledge sharing can be seen as the lifeblood for the establishment of a true Knowledge Society. Such a society must be grounded on an iterative process whereby existing knowledge is constantly shared, consolidated and – crucially – enriched with new knowledge. And knowledge sharing is the means by which that enrichment can take place. Without doubt, these processes play a vital role in the context of education, which ultimately has a strong bearing on the formation of the Knowledge Society. In this paper, knowledge sharing among educators is discussed within the context of long-term research work that the authors have carried out in the field. The paper reports on the design and development of a series of Information Systems conceived for the sharing of practices among educational practitioners. It discusses the thinking behind these different but related systems and examines how this is borne out in the implementation of key system features.

► We developed four Information Systems for knowledge management and sharing in education organizations. ► We sought to help educators capitalize on existing knowledge and enhance their practice. ► Different theoretical models were adopted to meet requirements for each IS in a diachronic perspective. ► Universal design/design for all principles were adopted to address special education needs. ► The latest IS appears to provide effective support for knowledge creation, evaluation and application.