Learn to learn faster...

Digital "blending" has made its way into every aspect of our lives - from the little boy immersed in the battlefield of Dynasty Warriors on his Playstation II to the teenager who charts his chemistry lab report against a background of blaring music on his PC while engaging in multiple conversations with friends on Instant Messaging. Where are the lines between work, learning and entertainment?

It is increasingly difficult to draw parallel lines for the professional, particularly those in the IT arena. Learning is no longer limited by the confines of a classroom. It stretches beyond the four walls. Periodic learning to upgrade one's knowledge and skill is broadened to perpetual learning as dictated by professional demands, interests and hobbies. The new model integrates traditional methods of learning and instruction with those served digitally. The penetration of digital infrastructure into our offices, homes and society makes it convenient, accessible and even natural for the world we live in.

A recent work published by Capers Jones, chief scientist emeritus of the Software Productivity Research (SPRI) cited 15 million IT professionals worldwide, all of whom "face the need to acquire new knowledge and skills at a very rapid clip". Under the Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice, the eighth principle states - software engineers shall participate in lifelong learning regarding the practice of their profession. IT professionals are constantly challenged to keep pace with technological changes but often are stretched to do even more - to innovate - to use the latest know-how to produce faster, cheaper and better quality products and services that meet business demands.

Driven by such conditions, the IT professional must learn to learn faster to remain competitive and viable. Often, they do not have the option or luxury of waiting till the next run of courses to acquire the necessary skills. Already, content available on-line is increasing at an explosive rate. The highly motivated, self-directed professional is bound to find the relevant content or resource to fill the knowledge gap identified.

More than a repository of useful content, the digital infrastructure can serve as a vibrant "knowledge market". It offers services such as advice and insight from trusted knowledge enthusiasts. In short, facts and truths that make up explicit knowledge can now take on a broader form. This knowledge is extended to include insights from - practical experience with the subject. This is knowledge in practice altruistically shared by enthusiasts. Learning no longer needs to take place in isolation. Indeed, it can be very dynamic, interactive and richly diverse.

Such "knowledge markets" have also found value and place in organisations as key to sustainable competitive advantage. They have invested heavily in knowledge management initiatives to the extent of establishing chief knowledge officer positions; building knowledge teams, intelligent repositories and knowledge centres; and make modifications to performance reward systems to reflect their commitment.

Taking the lead are pioneering organisations with a keen eye towards such a trend - setting major initiatives and investments to shape the evolution of learning, education products and services to institutions, corporations, governments and individuals via the digital infrastructure. It behooves the IT professional to capitalise on these investments, as such perpetual learning leads to knowledge that can be dynamically exchanged, shaped and extended way beyond what is "business as usual".

A vital part of perpetual learning is the notion of learning to learn faster. Those "born digitally" are already learning to learn faster. Arguably, this pace is only limited by human motivation and drive. But for the individual who is digitally savvy, self-directed, creative and achievement/performance-oriented, work, learning and entertainment can no more be clearly delineated.