Beyond Search - REAP

via Jack Vinson's post Knowledge workers do more than search, found the article: Beyond Search is REAP. The point is that searching is really just the beginning for most activities. From the post:

Beyond Search is REAP - Retrieve, Extract, Arrange, Present. We’re still not there with the deeper tools and the whole experience we desire for truly reaping the value from all that’s available to us on the Internet.

Consider the typical information work flow of a professional:

• Retrieve — collect information from a variety of sources
• Extract — extract data, facts, examples
• Arrange — arrange documents and facts for use now or later
• Present — compose information into artifacts of value

Search is just about the retrieve and the -eaping is pretty much left to the person.

This is really on the mark and my only wish is that his article or Jack's had pointed to more help with the rest of the process. But the point made in comments was that the process becomes different quickly. On the other hand, I think there are some common techniques that we all use. I've pointed to a few in various posts probably the most notable are:

• Personal and Group Learning Using Web 2.0 Tools
• Personal Learning for Learning Professionals - Using Web 2.0 Tools to Make Reading & Research More Effective

This feels like the most important battleground in learning how to learn.