“Reality. Now that’s a concept!”

This famous quote by comedian (and philosopher, I might add) Robin Williams offers great insight as I embark on my latest journey—the pursuit of PhD in Communication from the University of Oklahoma Department of Communication.

Already I’m in full reality of just why one is designated as a “Doctor of Philosophy.” I’m knee-deep in theory construction, theory memorization, theory classification… theory of theory. The image I’ve chosen as the “trademark” of this blog, Raphael’s “School of Athens” has shown its appropriateness once more, as I’m delving into the thinking of our forefathers of philosophy and the ways in which they are intertwined.
My introduction into course work was M. Dues and M. Brown’s Boxing Plato’s Shadow—which serves as a plethora of basic communication history… its philosophers, it’s place in history. I might add that I was a bit disturbed when in the opening pages the authors referred to our field of study as “a field of renegades.” Given my history for churning the pot and questioning the status quo, however, I feel right at home.

Next on the menu was (is) P. Reynold’s A Primer in Theory Construction. As a new student in Dr. Kim’s Intro to Graduate Studies class, I have been assigned to review and facilitate a discussion of Chapters 3 & 4: Concepts & Statements. As all the new “concepts” swirled through my head I kept wishing there was a visual to help me put the interrelatedness of the basics of theory construction into learnable perspective. Alas, the Theory Construction Concept Map I created and linked here, based on J. Novak’s idea of concept maps, serves such a purpose. For my class colleagues, it will appear in full detail on my handout. My hope is that is assists us as we grow from novice scholars into accomplished ones.

The Internet offers an exciting way for Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Communities of Practice to share what they know

Last Friday I was excited, once again, to share my knowledge about the ways in which social technology can be used for research collaboration. This time the venue was the 2011 OU-Tulsa Research Forum, which was held in conjunction with The University of Tulsa 14th Annual Student Research Colloquium. This combined effort of sharing research knowledge between two major Tulsa universities is yet another testament toward efforts of increased research collaboration.

My poster presentation—”Utilization of Innovative Online Social Technology for Community-Based Participatory Research”—was awarded second place in the Community Service track (led by OU-Tulsa researcher Chan Hellman).  The poster was a collaborative effort with Dr. Frances Wen, Director of Research at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and Principal Investigator for a Community-Based Participatory Research project focusing on older Tulsans’ ability to “Age in Place.”

As the desire and need for interdisciplinary research continues to grow, I feel fortunate that the foundations of knowledge management can be used to facilitate such collaboration. Internet-based social technologies offer a unique opportunity for such communication facilitation. I’ve said many times, the dawn of the Internet and an economy of knowledge can be a mark on history much like the Gutenberg Press.

Social technologies are ever evolving, and as researchers and stewards of new knowledge, it is our responsibility to keep abreast of new ways to share what we know.

Getting past the rhetoric of health equality through health communication

Looks like the way The University of Oklahoma-Tulsa School of Community Medicine is using Web 2.0 technology for faculty and resident biomedical research is some pretty novel stuff. The editors of Cases in Public Health Communication and Marketing saw my presentation at the CDC National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media and have invited me to submit a case study about how we’re using wikis for research communication and knowledge management. Thanks to Doc Martens for introducing the technology some four years ago in our Masters of Knowledge Management class!!!! It takes visionaries like her to advance “better” (not best) practices in healthcare.

The more I get into the health communication field, the more I am surprised at how the crossing of communication, marketing and media with public health has been somewhat neglected. After all, what good is improved healthcare if no one knows about it? New technologies offer ways to share information, internally AND externally.

On the “inside” the days of long meetings and physically distributed minutes and reports is falling to the way side in favor of permanent, real-time documentation. I still believe in the water-cooler exchange, but my experience has shown me that getting something down in writing is the key to completing action items. Once a task or thought moves from tacit to explicit knowledge, somehow accountability creeps in.

On the “outside” hitting targeted “markets” of people can benefit from innovative health communication, including texting, increasing the awareness of health literacy issues, using ethnic media, conducting community based participatory research, and the like.

I’m excited about finding new ways to mobilize our nation to achieve health equity. Let’s get beyond the rhetoric!

CDC #hcmm10

Convergence 2010: Purpose, Programs & Partners.

Convergence KM and Health Communication: People, Process & Technology to get the right information to the right people at the right moment. Our charge… how to do this?!?

Is it using social media? Twitter? Blogs? Forums? Podcasts? Slideshare? Flickr? Delicious? LinkedIn? Vimeo? Wikis? I’m wondering… is today’s “technology” social media? According to RT @kayjayay @lisagualtieri @SLevineDC: “Best #hcmm10 insight of day from CDC: when novelty of social media wears off, evidence of behavior change will be needed.”

In spite of all the hype about using social media for mass communication to health care information USERS, I’m investigating its use for peer-to-peer health communication strategies. You can take a look at my Presentation Poster and handout materials at: http://slidesha.re/ckC9Ci

Is Social Media/Computing the New KM?

Certainly seems so. In addition to preparing a presentation about Enterprise 2.0, I recently listened in on PBworks webinar with Forrester Research Senior Analyst Oliver Young, who highlighted that the old KM was document-centric, and the new KM combines the old with a people-centric focus. Novel idea! And perhaps best facilitated with Social Media/Computing. Yes?

Wasn’t KM 1.0 “supposed” to focus on PEOPLE, process and technology? Perhaps web 2.0 technologies and OSS (open source software, like Drupal) offer new prospects for the accepting integration of KM into organizations that might otherwise be confused about the KM identity. Perhaps we can “sneak” it into the hallways and break rooms.

KM is definitely in an identity crisis, and I believe for all practical matters, has been in one in the US. Why is it that they get it in Asia and Europe? And why are employers in the US still all over the board about a definition for KM jobs? Do KMers fall into IT? HR? or any other number of acronyms? How does one specialize in KM when a successful KMer is a management generalist with the ability to pull diverse disciplines together in a cohesive strategy?

Continuing to ponder this and other ways to use new tools. Per a tweet today in the KM community: “RT @euan @vanderwal: From @nahumg: RT @lucian: Easier to give communities tools than to give tools communities. < spot on! #e2.0″

Using Enterprise 2.0 in KM

This… hot off the “press” (WordPress!) and ready for my KPM (Knowledge and Project Management) Symposium presentation Aug. 12 and 13 at the University of Oklahoma Tulsa campus.

Using Enterprise 2.0 in Knowledge Management

View more presentations from Michelle Farabough.

Gotta love incubators!

I am preparing a presentation for this year’s KPM (Knowledge and Project Management) Conference at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa campus in August. I’ve been assigned to the business innovators and incubators presenters group. According to my professors I’m a “serial” entrepreneur.

Because of my heightened interest in the power of wikis as an innovative knowledge management tool, I continue to follow Wasabi Ventures (PB Works), who also brings us SiteBattles, Song Journals, and a list of other hit and hip internet toys. And, again… this new genre of social networking “networking” is, well, innovative! Example: I linked the Song Journals to my Facebook account where my fellow high school graduates are planning our 30th class reunion. This new “concert venue” will probably be great fun for those of us who shared junior or high school or even college together, as that is when the songs and what they said made a BIG difference in our lives.

Managing knowledge (and communication) for the family reunion…

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Little did I know that my KM skills would prove useful for planning a family reunion. But alas… I have been working on bringing people, processes and technology together… getting the right information to the right people at the right time.

One such resource has been Smilebox. (See my creation above.) It’s a great little program for sharing information by way of photos and text. Likewise, my mother and I honed our humorous writing skills by composing a tongue-in-cheek communique for the “family.”

Trying to figure out the logistics (processes) for getting everyone where they need to be when they are supposed to be there… and feeding/entertaining them all… has been a lesson in the organization of information.

Stay tuned… And live vicariously. I guarantee you some good laughs!

Visiting the Family Cabin in Traverse City

Great place to manage my own knowledge! Check out the new Blogroll link I’ve added for Traverse City Up North. You, too, can visit vicariously, then.

Congratulations PBworks!

If you haven’t tried a “pb”wiki, it’s definitely time you tried the new “PB”works. This fast-growing, collaborative web platform company provides enterprises and educators… small and large… a wonderful way to do all those important knowledge management things with what they know:
Create it
Capture it
Secure it
Combine it
Pool it
Edit it
Connect it
Share it
Transfer it
Distribute it
Network it
Web 2.0 it
Manage it
Workflow it
Search it
Filter it
Locate it
Store it
Use it
Reuse it
Experience it

It’s the PERFECT knowledge management tool! Take a bite out of your workload with the new PBworks!

If you’ve been wondering why my provocative posts have been absent from the web, I must admit that I have spent an intense nine months implementing a knowledge management initiative and customer solution-driven PBworks wiki at SCFM. I’m already busy doing the same (and putting another PBworks wiki together) for a soon-to-open non-profit middle and high school serving the Asperger community. For all my friends and business associates and anyone who’ll listen, I’m recommending you try PBworks. It works!

p.s. I promise to start posting again!