If you are one of those who have always been uncomfortable with uniform, rote learning, there's hope on the Web. The recently launched KnowledgeCareer.com is a unique knowledge resource centre and a peer network for students, professionals, teachers and entrepreneurs connected with knowledge-intensive careers. Registration is free at the site. Registered members can then use the KnowledgeXchange feature of the site to share their knowledge and expertise with learners around the world.One of the unique features of the site is that here learners can design their own learning requirements, learn new skills and get special insights on a web-wide learning campus. According to 28-year-old Hasnain Zaheer, who conceptualised the site, anyone can be an educator or a learner on KnowledgeCareer.
Says Zaheer, who is team leader, Project KnowledgeCareer, "I believe every `knowledgecareerist' in the world has a unique set of skills, aptitude, experience and situation profile. Why must a learner go for a course or a training simply because it is available in the learning centres but is not what is exactly required? This is where the Internet's unique features, interactivity and personalisation, come into play."
The best feature of this web site is the KnowledgeXchange-a virtual forum for users to learn from peers and educationists. Zaheer claims that it is the world's first and only exchange for sharing knowledge.
Users are required to browse the offers from different providers and the requirements from various learners in the relevant domain of knowledge they are interested in. They can then contact the selected entity after going through the available and required `learning packages'.
The user can then design his own learning package by posting course details and personal tutoring and the mode of delivery of learning tools or a mix of both.
Users of the website can also co-author a Web-Book. By co-authoring this book, your name gets listed in the Sc(Roll) of Honour. You can also read this book being written now by all `knowledgecareerists'. The promoters welcome everybody to contribute his/ her ideas in completing it.
"All of us at some point of time have craved for a byline. There is hardly anyone among us who has not aspired to write a book. But not many of us finally grow to become authors or journalists to get these bylines. On the Web Book, just organise your thoughts on your favourite subject and contribute a write-up. Don't worry about the language since we would edit or improve it," says Zaheer.
Another interesting feature of the site is the `Gateway to Knowledge'. You just need to select the domain of your interest and let the gateway link you to the resources on the net. Zaheer says that they have searched the Internet extensively to include companies and businesses, knowledge institutions like schools, colleges and universities, free tutorials, information and articles.
The site also features The KnowledgeCareerist, a monthly newsletter that carries useful articles and updates. The features and content of the site could be useful to all professionals and wannabes in the domains covered. The domains that are available are Infotech, Internet, business management, education and media. All these areas are converging into each other, which will help professionals to focus on to specialised areas such as Internet marketing, adds Zaheer.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.