learningforsustainability.netK* (Kstar)
K* -- the collective term for the set of functions and processes at the various interfaces between knowledge, practice, industry and policy that improve the sharing of knowledge and its application, uptake and value in the pursuit of progress. This page acknowledges the emergence of the term K*. The rise in the number of terms used to depict various knowledge sharing activities (such as knowledge brokering, knowledge translating, knowledge exchange and knowledge mobilisation) has tended to hide the fact that the actual functions they describe are all systemically related to each other.
K*
- The K* (KStar) Initiative
This page from the United Nations University acknowledges that 'knowledge intermediaries' are playing key roles in considering how relationships between policy and practice, research and other types of knowledge can be made to function better. They are practicing Knowledge Management (KM), Knowledge Mobilization (KMb), Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT), Knowledge Brokering (KB), Knowledge Adoption (KA) and a number of other activities which collectively are now being termed K* (KStar). There is also a link to the draft K* Concept Paper resulting from the recent K* Conference. - K* An Overview of the Special Workshop on Knowledge Translation and Brokering: Where Next for Knowledge? These proceedings from the 2010 Knowledge Translation and Brokering workshop in Quebec, Montreal – produced by the Workshop Committee - are written reporter style in an attempt to capture the
variety of perspectives provided by speakers, facilitators and participants. This covers topics including skills and capacity building, making sense of knowledge mobilization, effective written communication, finding the right tools, putting knowledge translation and brokering into action, and the role of social networking.
Knowledge translation
- The knowledge translation toolkit The tools in this IDRC book will help researchers ensure that their good science reaches more people, is more clearly understood, and is more likely to lead to positive action. In sum, that their work becomes more useful, and therefore more valuable. That demands better “communication”—the transmission of information that is relevant and in a form that is meaningful to all those who might benefit from it. It therefore informs, guides, and motivates. Only when that is achieved does latent information become active knowledge.
Knowledge brokering
- Knowledge Brokering Exploring the process of transferring knowledge into action This report by Vicky Ward and colleagues acknowledges that transferring knowledge into action appears to be a messy process which involves a complex series of interactions between the producers and users of health research. Their research was designed to (1) gain a better understanding of the processes involved in knowledge transfer and (2) produce a template to help researchers, practitioners and decision makers plan and evaluate initiatives for transferring knowledge into action. This work enabled them to build a clearer understanding of the processes involved in knowledge transfer. They used this understanding as the basis for a model which could help research producers and users plan and evaluate knowledge transfer initiatives. They have also operationalised this model into practical frameworks for research producers and users, consisting of questions to consider when planning knowledge transfer activities. These frameworks should be used as the basis for thinking about the issues associated with knowledge transfer rather than as a checklist for action since this reflects the reality of the knowledge transfer process.