Knowledge workers solve problems, make decisions, and learn continuously—yet much of the "knowledge" they produce in the form of personal notes and sense-making artifacts largely remains invisible to the public, as it is usually kept personal. Notes are taken, files are stored, and insights accumulated, but it often remains unclear how work done in the past translates into competences in future that others can understand, trust, or meaningfully evaluate.

This session shows how Tools for Thought—in this case Obsidian.md—can help bridge this gap. Rather than focusing on tools or workflows for their own sake, we address what knowledge workers actually need: ways to capture work-related outcomes, connect them coherently over time, and present them in forms that make competences visible and credible.

We demonstrate how connected note environments can support four practical moves:

• Capturing key decisions, insights, and work artifacts as they occur
• Reflectively connecting these materials so patterns of practice and capability emerge over time
• Validating skill claims with concrete examples instead of vague self-descriptions
• Presenting knowledge, skills and experience in ways that others can follow and assess

Using personal examples from research, teaching, and project-based work, we show how Tools for Thought can function as a personal competence record: a living resource that supports reflection, collaboration, and professional communication—without turning knowledge work into bureaucratic reporting.

Format: Talk with short examples and discussion

References (Selection)

• Dilger, B. & Strate, M. (2025). Brückenbau zwischen individuellen Kompetenzen, Weiterbildungsangeboten und Anforderungen auf dem Arbeitsmarkt durch KI-gestützte Kompetenzportfolios in der beruflichen Weiterbildung. bwp@ Berufs- und Wirtschaftspädagogik – online, 48, 1–19. https://www.bwpat.de/ausgabe48/dilger_strate_bwpat48.pdf
• Hartig, J., Klieme, E. (2006). Kompetenz und Kompetenzdiagnostik. In: Schweizer, K. (eds) Leistung und Leistungsdiagnostik. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-33020-8_9
• Siegel, S. T., & Lohner, D. (2024). Wissensmanagement von Lehrenden mit „Digital Tools for Thought“: Potenziale, Grenzen und Einsatzmöglichkeiten. Neues Handbuch Hochschullehre (NHHL), 114, 1–20.
• Siegel, S. T., Lohner, D., & Arnold, M. (2025). Reimagining Teaching Portfolios Through Personal Knowledge Management with Digital Tools for Thought. Zeitschrift für Hochschulentwicklung, 20(3). https://doi.org/10.21240/zfhe/20-3/11

Best

https://obsidian.md/

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/3-540-33020-8_9

https://www.zfhe.at/index.php/zfhe/article/view/2222