Increasing older people engagement and as well as financial income through the utilization of life learned knowledge. Hopefully this project will be beneficial to the older people that you engage with. The project is called SilentK (silent knowledge) and is based on reinvesting tacit knowledge into the economy(something lost from industry and institutions when older workers retire).
Silent K is web-based.
The site works as follows;
1)Older people register with SilentK and input information regarding their working life experience and what they can offer to that sector.
2)They then respond to questions posted on the websites discussion forum.( This can be seen by all and it is here the older people(known as experts) develop a reputation based on the quality of their answers.)
3)Potential users contact experts to determine how suitable the knowledge is to their business
4)Agreement is reached on whether a charge will be applied to transfer of tacit knowledge( which can be done by phone/ Skype /face-to-face etc.)
The website is not-for-profit and there is no charges other than that which may be agreed by the expert and customer. Some older people may not want to charge, therefore payment is optional.
This offers older people online engagement, recognition of the invaluable knowledge of life experience and possibility to supplement their income on time and basis determined by them.
An induction programme is currently being finalized which will include;
An introduction to Tacit Knowledge
Examples of the importance of tacit knowledge to the economy
How to identify your own tacit knowledge
How to use the website
Introduction and instructions on how to interact online(Skype, email, blogs etc.) These are step by step SilentK worksheets which simplify what can be a somewhat confusing process!
The induction programme will be available for tutors/peers to deliver and by the end of the induction(approx 2 hours but flexible to the needs of groups), participants will be able to recognize the benefits of their own tacit knowledge, how to use and navigate the website as well as how to use online interaction tools.
