A New Theory for the New Age of Information

I selected Knowledge Utilization and Technology Transfer Theory. My selection was based on what I inferred from the name; that knowledge and technology are combined. I thought this aligned well with my academic and professional background in information science, learning technologies, and as a librarian. As I found articles and learned more about it, I thought it interesting that there are two separate theories that in 1991, two researchers hybridized together. They saw the writing on the walls, technology was going to change how knowledge is created and shared. The concept of knowledge utilization, or knowledge management, has its origins in the early 1900s. However, the introduction of the Gutenberg press and the concept of the third, fourth, and fifth waves described by Torphy and Drake (2019) can date knowledge management back further than the early 1900s. Introducing tools like Web 2.0 tools and GenAI have further changed the way knowledge is managed.  

This theory aligns with my interest in artificial intelligence. While I had been planning to pursue teacher preparation for my dissertation, after a lot of thinking and talking, I realized that as passionate as I am about that topic, I am more interested in the ethical use of AI in our classrooms. What does AI literacy look like among students? How is AI going to impact knowledge management? In my own experiences as a librarian, I have been at the intersection of knowledge management and technology used to transfer knowledge. The research projects alone are demonstrative of a skillset in both aspects of the theory. 

Choi, H. J. (2009). Technology transfer issues and a new technology transfer model. Journal of Technology Studies, 35(1), 49-57.

Gibson, D. V. & Niwa, K. (1991). Knowledge-based technology transfer. Technology management: the new international language. pp. 503-506. Doi: 10.1109/PICMET.1991.183701

Jacobson, N. (2007). Social Epistemology: Theory for the “Fourth Wave” of Knowledge Transfer and Exchange Research. Science Communication, 29(1), 116-127. https://doi-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/10.1177/1075547007305166

Kuciapski, M. (2017). A model of mobile technologies acceptance for knowledge transfer by employees. Journal of Knowledge Management, 21(5), 1053-1076.

Stemberkova, R., Maresova, P., David, O. O., & Adeoye, F. (2021). Knowledge management model for effective technology transfer at universities. Industry & Higher Education, 35(6), 638-649. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950422220978046

Torphy, K. T., & Drake, C. (2019). Educators meet the fifth estate: The role of social media in teacher training. Teachers College Record (1970), 121(14), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1177/016146811912101406