Enhancing the teaching‐learning process: a knowledge management approach

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to emphasize the need for knowledge management (KM) in the teaching‐learning process in technical educational institutions (TEIs) in India, and to assert the impact of information technology (IT) based KM intervention in the teaching‐learning process.Design/methodology/approachThe approach of the paper is basically conceptual and descriptive. The paper studies the role of KM in facilitating knowledge sharing among stakeholders in TEIs in India and elaborates on the need for knowledge management in the teaching‐learning process. A KM framework for enhancement of knowledge sharing by the use of shared intellectual repositories (IRs) is proposed for the enhancement of teaching and learning in technical educational institutions in India.FindingsThe authors value the impact that KM can have in enhancing the quality of teaching and learning in TEIs, and underscore the need for credible research into the benefits and challenges that the implementation of IT‐based KM intervention will provide.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper emphasizes the urgent need for improvement in quality of education in TEIs in India using the tools and processes of knowledge management. The importance of the proposed framework lies in augmenting the teaching‐learning process, improving productivity, enhancing communication among academia, researchers and professionals, enhancing student perception and understanding of subjects, and providing a common platform for pooling individual knowledge towards a common knowledge base.Originality/valueThe paper helps academicians to understand the importance of IT‐supported KM concepts, tools and practices towards quality teaching and learning. It provides useful inputs to TEIs, which must recognize that implementation of KM will influence knowledge sharing among faculty, researchers, practitioners, experts, professionals and students and enable quality education for students. Furthermore, the development of an IT‐based KM system will facilitate the promotion of institutional value in the competitive academic society. However there exists the need to evaluate the proposed framework in TEIs in India.