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Knowledge Integration

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Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning

Synonyms

Integrating knowledge; Merging knowledge structures

Definition

Knowledge integrationrefers to the process of merging two or more originally unrelated knowledge structures into a single structure. In the most general sense, it can encompass the complexities of how two digital databases can be merged together or how two companies can effectively combine the knowledge of their workers. In the learning sciences, however, the term usually refers to knowledge integration within persons’ memory. Learners pick up pieces of knowledge (e.g., experiences, observations, ideas, hypotheses, explanations) in many different situations, for example, everyday life observations, conversations with friends, the Internet, and school instruction. Novices in a domain often do not see which of these newly acquired pieces of knowledge relate to each other and why they should be related at all. Recognizing relations usually depends on relevant prior knowledge, for instance, knowing an underlying rule...

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References

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Correspondence to Michael Schneider .

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Schneider, M. (2012). Knowledge Integration. In: Seel, N.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_807

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_807

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1427-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1428-6

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