Creating a Knowledge Base is a Worthwhile Investment.

In this post, I will be giving insight into a new and enlightening perspective I have gained for knowledge bases.



Here is a definition of a Knowledge Base.

A knowledge base is a centralized repository for information.

Here are a couple of definitions of the term 'Investment'.

A devoting, using, or giving of time, talent and emotional energy, etc, as for a purpose or to achieve something.

Investment in time, energy, or matter spent in the hope of future benefits actualized within a specified date or time frame.

I use the following devices to store my knowledge base into: External hard drives, DVD's, CD's, USB flash drives. I place articles and other pieces of information into my knowledge base. I create folders such as Research, My ideas etc. I am adding to the research folders on an ongoing basis. I study the research folder and other folders regularly. This is a good practice. I have spotted new things which I had previously missed, when I spend time studying my research files. Whenever I get new ideas through my studies, I make sure that I document these ideas and place them into the 'my ideas' folder. I back my folders up into the various storage devices I own. These ideas can blend in with other ideas in order to come up with a whole new idea based upon analysis of past data. In other words, as you keep adding to your knowledge base, new and powerful ideas will materialize.

When you think about it, the storage devices mentioned above, do not cost too much money. However, the data which can be stored in these devices can become future gold mines.I have been collecting articles and other forms of data for quite a few years now. I only recently found out about 'data collection'. I had implemented a form of data collection without consciously being aware of it. I usually store text based articles into my knowledge base. However, I have also started to add videos, audio files etc as well. I have come up with some creative business ideas through the work I have put into my knowledge base. If these ideas succeed, it will testify to the fact that gold can truly be discovered through knowledge bases. Knowledge bases are not limited to business alone. The sciences, arts and other fields can also benefit from the creation of knowledge bases.

I found an interesting segment from a research web site:

Collection of data from secondary sources is a treasure hunt and we are  skilled researchers with an eye for diamonds.

Source: datacollectionservices.net

In the past, great inventors, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, would document their ideas, prototypes etc into paper based journals or large note pads etc. Nowadays we are lucky enough to have the internet and storage devices which we can use instead of paper based knowledge bases. We are saving trees when we store our knowledge bases into electronic platforms. The other advantage to electronic storage is that this method does not take up too much physical space.

My Views on Community Development and Community Learning and Development.

Through my ongoing research, I have come to realize that I have been instinctively incorporating elements of community development and community learning and development work as part of my own consulting work. Below, you will find a few definitions for the aforementioned terms:


Community Development.

Community development is a process where community members come together to take collective action and to generate solutions to common problems.

Community development seeks to empower individuals and groups of people by providing them with the skills they need to affect change in their own communities.

Some of the aims of community development are as follows:

Become more responsible, create employment and economic opportunities, achieve social, economic, cultural and environmental goals.


Community Learning and Development.

Community learning and development is learning and social development work with individuals and groups in their communities using a range of formal and informal methods.

We define community-based learning as the broad set of teaching/learning strategies that enable youth and adults to learn what they want to learn from any segment of the community. By community, we are including the schools, formal and informal institutions in one's neighborhood, and the entire world through such resources as the internet.

As you can see from the above definition, the internet is now recognized as a learning and development tool. The amount of information available online is mind boggling. Sites such as Facebook and Google plus pages are excellent platforms through which learning can be delivered. With these two platforms, community learning and development initiatives have colossal reach. For example, I have a Facebook page for my School of The Remote Influencer concept. Through this page, I have students from countries as widespread as Africa and the USA. I have shared knowledge with these students while being separated by vast geographic distances. Google plus pages offer the ability to create video hang outs. Other tools can be used also: Skype, e-mail instant messaging, even traditional phones, mobile, cellular phones - which are commonly used by e-consultants and e-life coaches.

To conclude, the internet is a powerful tool for community development and for community learning and development initiatives.

Lifelong Learning - LLL and valuing Informal, Non Formal Learning.

I am following my own independent research, learning and training through my school: School of The Remote Influencer - SOTRI. I know I've mentioned SOTRI in this blog before. Sorry if I have repeated myself. There are two main aims at SOTRI. The first aim is to add to the Remote Influencing (RI) body of knowledge. The second aim is to use what I have learned through SOTRI to help society and the world at large.

Through my learning at SOTRI, I came to realize that the RI body of knowledge is vast. There is much to learn when it comes to RI. I am adding to the RI body of knowledge through my own independent, informal and non formal learning, which includes elements of Self Directed Learning - SDL, unschooling and DIY elements also. I could have followed a traditional educational path to aid me in my quest of adding to the RI body of knowledge. However, I found that the traditional methods did not work for me. They were too limiting, rigid and inflexible. That is why I chose the methods as previously mentioned above.

I found some interesting information on the benefits to society for Lifelong Learning. Here is a segment from an article I found via a Google search:

Across Scotland, learning is provided by:

Further education colleges
trade unions
employers
professional bodies
voluntary and community organizations
private training firms
community learning and development centres
secondary schools
higher education institutes

We believe in investing public money in lifelong learning because investment in knowledge and skills brings
direct economic benefits both to individuals and to society as a whole.

I noticed a gap in the above literature. Did you? In the list of learning providers, I see no listing for independent scholars, independent researchers, home educated students. Why aren't these forms of education listed or even valued for that fact? The interest in Self Directed Learning is growing on an exponential basis around the world. We will be seeing more and more students learning through these methods over the next few years and way into the future.

My learning is a blend of informal and non formal learning. I did some research into educational providers and private training organizations. According to the information I had read through, SOTRI is in fact an online school and it is also a training organization. I am providing my learning and training services via my web site and my facebook page. You will find these sites if you go to Google and type in: School of The Remote Influencer.

The learning attained through informal and non formal methods are sometimes hard to quantify. I am working on some unique projects through SOTRI. Some of my work revolves around creating an online business which can help many people. This idea is in beta test mode at present. I aim to help students to excel in their lives. The proof of whether SOTRI works or not will be in the concrete, real world, tangible results we obtain. There is value to SOTRI. Over the course of time, our results will testify to this fact.

Here is a link to article on Lifelong Learning and it's benefits:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2003/02/16309/17778

The above article is from Scotland. It still applies to many countries however.

My New Product/Invention: Portmag Keyholder.

I came up with a unique idea for a magnetic keyholder in 2011. I recently decided to actualize this idea and to turn the idea into a tangible, physical product: Portmag Keyholder - Portable Magnetic Keyholder. Here are a few photos of Portmag:

It is not always a good idea to store your house keys in one set place. If one day you accidentally place your keys in a different spot without being aware of it, you will have lost your keys. This would mean that you would gain stress and you would lose valuable time looking for your keys. Portmag is a backup solution for key storage. I used to place my keys solely in my bedroom. I found this quite limiting and time consuming. I have and I still do occasionally order items online. I have visitors on occasion also. In the past, if I had a delivery, or if I had visitors, I would had to have gone into my bedroom to find my keys. Now, I can place my keys onto my Portmag product which can be placed on my fridge, the mortise plate on either one of the doors closest to my front door. This makes answering my door quicker and more efficient. Portmag does what the product name says it can do: It is a portable, magnetic keyholder.   

Here are some benefits and features of Portmag:

• Portmag is a neodymium magnet with a black covering (Which can protect painted surfaces)
• No need for set up or installation etc
• Just stick it to the place of your choosing and you're set
• The black coloring makes it easier to spot
• You will be less likely to lose your keys
• It is a good idea to have different places to store your keys at
• Portmag can stick to metal mortise plates on doors, it can stick to a fridge (You can see a mortise plate in one of the above photos)
• The human brain associates doors with keys
• If you place Portmag on one of your doors, you will be able to find the keys quickly

Neodymium magnets are very strong. You will have to be a bit careful when you place the Portmag onto a mortise plate or a fridge. I have some more info on Portmag in PDF format. If you would like to read the PDF, please contact me and I will be more than glad to e-mail the file over to you.  

Here is a link to my Facebook ATO Consulting store link to Portmag:

http://www.atoconsultingdotcom.aradium.com/3lhgl https://aradium.com/3lhgl