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Role of Tacit Knowledge in Classroom Teaching
A case study of HBTI, Kanpur
Rochna Srivastava
Department of Library and Information Science
Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India
rochna1@rediffmail.com
Vipin Panday
Department of Library and Information Science
MGCGV, Chitrakoot, Satna, India
vipinpandeyalld@gmail.com
Abstract— This paper is based on the study conducted at
HBTI, Kanpur to find out how tacit knowledge is helpful in
various teaching activities of the faculty members, how they use
their tacit knowledge in classroom teaching, the ways and means
of updating learning methods, updating subject knowledge, and
various methods used in getting teaching abilities. Modes of
expressing ideas and medium of expression of oneself have also
been discussed. Paper also highlights the ideal personalities as
perceived by the faculty members of HBTI and their self
perception. Various reasons for not sharing knowledge and for
hesitation in communicating with others have also been
discussed.
Keywords—component; formatting; style; styling; insert (key
words)
I. INTRODUCTION
Knowledge is storage of information which can be recalled
for decision making. Knowledge in some instances is nothing
but memorization. It includes familiarity, awareness, and
understanding gained through experiences or study and result
from making comparisons, identifying consequences and
making connections.
According to Polayni [1], “All knowledge is either tacit or
rooted in tacit knowledge and is involved in each activity at
two different levels of dimensions which are mutually
exclusive.”
II. TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge Management (KM) is one of the most
engaging subjects in modern era. Many academic and
professional disciplines have adapted KM education into their
course. LIS is also one of the subjects. Prior to carrying out
the study, a detailed literature survey was done to understand
the concept of Knowledge as discussed by Davenport [2],
Polayni [3], Clark [4]; its types as mentioned by Nonaka [5],
Waren [6], and Polayni [7], Knowledge Management (KM)
discussed by Snowden [8], and various models of KM as
proposed by Song et al. [9], Xiong and Deng [10], Michailova
and Hutchings [11], and Nonaka and Takeuchi [12].
Michael Polayni, as mentioned earlier [6] made distinction
between the explicit knowledge, which can be articulated in
formal language and transmitted among individuals, and tacit
knowledge, i.e. personal experience involving intangible
factors such as personal belief, perspective and values.
Nonaka, the father of Knowledge Management (KM), 0n the
other hand [4], identified two types of knowledge, that is:
A. Tacit Knowledge
Subjective and experience based and is also the context
specific. This includes cognitive skills such as beliefs, images,
intuition and mental models as well as technical skills such as
craft and know-how. It is inaccessible to others and resides in
the human minds therefore is hard to formalize.
B. Explicit Knowledge
Objective and rational that can be expressed in words,
sentences, numbers or formulas (context free). It includes
theoretical approaches, problem solving manuals and
databases.
III. ABOUT HBTI
The history of Harcourt Butler Technological Institute
dates back to the 1920s when there was a growing realization
of the need for advancement in science and technology among
the people of what was then called the United Provinces.
Consequently, the Indian Industrial Commission at its Nainital
meeting proposed two institutions for engineering, one at
Roorkee and the other at Kanpur. To boost entrepreneurship,
accelerate industrial development, to create a sound
environment for contemporary applied research and to
inculcate scientific and technical temper, an institute called
`Government Research Institute, Cawnpore’ was started in
1920. It was housed in two rooms of what was called Sher
Wali Kothi.
On 25 November 1921, the Governor of the United
Provinces, Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler (1869–1938), laid the
foundation of the present building. It was rechristened
Government Technological Institute in 1921. In 1926, it got
the name Harcourt Butler Technological Institute.
Harcourt Butler Technological Institute, Kanpur, popularly
known as HBTI, Kanpur, is an academic autonomous
engineering college under the Gautam Buddha Technical
University (formerly Uttar Pradesh Technical University). Its
programs have been conferred autonomous status under the
university. It is the second oldest engineering institute in Uttar
Pradesh after the former University of Roorkee, and the fourth
oldest in India. The institute holds ISO 9001:2000
Certification. It offers Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral
degrees in engineering, as well as Masters degrees in Business
administration and Computer Applications.
978-1-4799-5531-2 ©2015 IEEE