Learning ecosystems for knowledge management in educational institutions

Learning ecosystems for knowledge management in educational institutions

Alicia García-Holgado Francisco J. García Peñalvo

GRIAL Research Group University of Salamanca

[email protected]

Which is a technological ecosystem?

Biology vs. Technology

A natural ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting among them

TEEM'16 - Doctoral Consortium

There are three main elements in any natural ecosystem: organisms, physical environment and the relationships among them


Each natural ecosystem has a set of characteristics that make it different from other ecosystems. These differences are a significant part of the definition about natural ecosystems and are an important connection with the technological definition.


In the technological context, ecosystems are the evolution of traditional information systems to support the management of information and knowledge in heterogeneous environments. Technological ecosystems are a general framework to develop any type of technological solution where information is the centre of the system.


The technological ecosystems or software ecosystems are a set of different components related to each other through information flows in a physical environment that supports these flows, where users are part of the ecosystem


This is a parallel to natural ecosystems where the organisms are the software and human components, and the interrelationships are the information flows. Moreover, exist a strong evolving component in the technological ecosystems in order to adapt them to the natural evolution of the organizations and institutions.


The problems and the goals

Thesis work

The problems

•  The metaphor of ecosystem has been chosen to provide technological solutions to give suitable answers to knowledge management problems in heterogeneous contexts

•  The definition of technological ecosystems is a complex process with a wide range of requirements

•  Each technological ecosystem is unique. It is very difficult to find two different institutions or companies that share the exact same problems and goals regarding their own knowledge management

•  Technological ecosystems should connect and relate the different tools and services that arise and serve for the knowledge management, building technological ecosystems, increasingly complex internally, from the semantic interoperability of its components to transparently provide more functionality and simplicity to its users


The research goals

•  The main objective of this thesis project is to propose a framework for the definition and evolution of technological ecosystems by analysing integration of different software solutions and support decision making by analysing data flows and information generated by them –  Select systems / services for the implementation of technological

ecosystems to solve different problems in different contexts –  Define interoperability levels in order to achieve a high degree of

integration and cohesion between the components of the ecosystem –  Ensure sustainable development of the different elements of the

ecosystem without affecting the production system –  Allow centralized management of different components of the

ecosystem –  Study solutions for a non-traumatic deployment –  Support decision making for better knowledge management in

educational institutions


Case studies

Technological Ecosystem examples: Public Administration


Technological Ecosystem examples: Health sector


Technological Ecosystem examples: University (I)


Technological Ecosystem examples: University (II) University of Salamanca


Technological Ecosystem examples: University (III) Tecnológico de Monterrey


Technological Ecosystem examples: University (IV) University of Guadalajara






Thanks

Alicia García-Holgado GRIAL Research Group University of Salamanca

[email protected]

Education

Learning ecosystems for knowledge management in educational institutions