Connecting and making coherent teachers' knowledge: Building a knowledge-oriented culture

Abstract

This paper is partly based on a doctoral thesis entitled Knowledge creation, knowledge sharing and knowledge use: A case study. The paper challenges teacher librarians to view themselves as knowledge architects in the designing and sustaining of a teachers' learning community - one which values teachers' knowledge as core business in the school. This paper builds a case for teacher librarians to realign their role by focusing on their colleagues' knowledge and asking: "How can teachers' knowledge be shared, and captured and disseminated to better enable a knowledge-oriented culture?"' and "What are the structures and processes that bring teachers' knowledge out into the open to be shared?" Part A of this paper presents a synopsis of the study's purpose, rationale and key issues. It brings together the theories of learning community and knowledge management in establishing a discourse that is centred on valuing, connecting and making coherent teachers' knowledge as essential in enabling a knowledge-oriented culture to grow and to flourish. Part B presents an overview of the study with a focus on one of its three themes: knowledge sharing. Part C concludes with a brief discussion on how this research can contribute to the role of school libraries and teacher librarians in the emerging discourse on professional learning and knowledge sharing within and across work place units.