Measuring Knowledge Transfer as Learning Outcomes

This paper proposes using learning outcome as means to measure knowledge transfer. It is based on a study to assess the effectiveness of knowledge transfer using the knowledge management concept of externalization by means of weblog access. In the knowledge era, knowledge transfer between the instructor and learners is important since the goal of educational system is the learners gain the knowledge from the process of knowledge transfer by the instructor. Studies have shown that knowledge transfer can be problematic, and an effective transfer of knowledge can be difficult. The difficulty arises when the transferred knowledge becomes ambiguous, disrupted (hence incomplete), and distributed all over (making it difficult to link them together). Four hypotheses were formulated to examine the relationship between key characteristics of knowledge and learning outcome. The findings revealed some significant results involving the key characteristics of knowledge. The implication from this study can contribute much to the instructor and learners in knowing what knowledge that the instructor can transfer to learners and what knowledge is gained by learners as learning outcome. In addition, the learning outcome can tell the instructor to search for the right methodologies for improving the knowledge transfer to learners.