A presentation from Agile Tour London 2020 on an alternative to mind maps, the knowledge canvas. This format is digital friendly for videos and helps both speakers and attendees to organise content efficiently to tell a story.
2. A visualisation practice
to help see it all on a page
to support learning, speaking and training
Hello, I’m Craig Cockburn*
www.craigcockburn.com
Twitter: @siliconglen #kcanvas
*Same pronunciation as Alistair, Agile Manifesto co-author.
licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license
Knowledge Canvas
4. A visualisation practice for organising content
and supporting structured learning
Not a talk on usability
..or PowerPoint
..or slide design
(feedback welcome though!)
What this is
6. Preparing and delivering learning content
Watching a talk, conference or course
Graphic facilitation, conference handouts
Revision and recall, especially for videos
Some Use Cases
8. Are our talks inclusive?
Are conferences inclusive?
Does digital pose additional challenges?
Would a clear structure help?
Origins
9. Data
Only 26% of (medical) students prefer an auditory learning style
-- US National Library of Medicine.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4340450/
Immediately after the average person has listened to someone
talk, they remember only about half of what they have heard,
no matter how carefully they thought they were listening.
(25% after 2 months) -- Harvard Business Review.
https://hbr.org/1957/09/listening-to-people
24/11/2020 Craig Cockburn, www.craigcockburn.com @siliconglen #kcanvas
11. McKinsey Pyramid assumes a hierarchy
A mind map is a hierarchy rolled up
You can’t equate these formats easily to time
or to multi-connected knowledge graphs
Some existing limitations
12. Cognitive load theory:
• Intrinsic load (difficulty of the subject)
• Extraneous load (unnecessary load, how it is presented)
• Germane load (useful, helps with learning)
https://impact.chartered.college/article/using-cognitive-load-theory-improve-slideshow-presentations/
“Process your notes”
(American Psychological Association)
https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psn/2013/09/learning-secrets
Learning takes effort
13. Existing Practices
Concept Map (Training from the back of the room)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept_map
Mind maps by Tony Buzan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map
Visual Facilitation (Graphic facilitation)
https://drawingchange.com/graphic-facilitation-is-agile/
Cornell notes
http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/cornellnotes.html
15. Many visualisation formats exist
Mapping experiences book (Jim Kalbach, O’Reilly)
24/11/2020 Craig Cockburn, www.craigcockburn.com @siliconglen #kcanvas
16. Some tools for note organisation
TheBrain
One Note / Google Keep etc
Mural / Miro
Roam Research
24/11/2020 Craig Cockburn, www.craigcockburn.com @siliconglen #kcanvas
19. I did a talk on strategy,
Brexit, Cynefin and mapping
See
https://www.infoq.com/presentations/wardley-maps-context-change/ (2019)
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQTMWaR9Rs4 (2020)
26. Intro Problem Using the proposal Recap OngoingProposed solution
Resized by Content Depth
24/11/2020
Craig Cockburn, www.craigcockburn.com @siliconglen
#kcanvas
27. Redraw as a Canvas
Intro Problem Proposed solution Using the proposal Recap Ongoing
24/11/2020
Craig Cockburn, www.craigcockburn.com @siliconglen
#kcanvas
28. Intro Problem Proposed solution Using the proposal Recap Ongoing
Time
Annotate the Canvas
How
ContentKeyPoints
24/11/2020
29. Intro Problem Proposed solution Using the proposal Recap Ongoing
Time
Talk Progress 1/6
How
ContentKeyPoints
Intro
Battles
Wardley
Roman
Pichler
Mapping
Who is
Craig &
how this
originated
24/11/2020
30. Intro Problem Proposed solution Using the proposal Recap Ongoing
Time
Talk Progress 2/6
How
ContentKeyPoints
Intro
Corporate
Failures
Agile
Failures
Brexit
Struggles
Battles
Wardley
Roman
Pichler
Cargo
Cult
DruckerMapping
Language
Who is
Craig &
how this
originated
Case studies
and impact of
getting things
wrong
24/11/2020
31. Intro Problem Proposed solution Using the proposal Recap Ongoing
Time
Talk Progress 3/6
How
ContentKeyPoints
Intro
Corporate
Failures
Agile
Failures
Brexit
Struggles
Battles
Wardley
Roman
Pichler
Cargo
Cult
DruckerMapping
Language
Who is
Craig &
how this
originated
Case studies
and impact of
getting things
wrong
Strategy in SAFe
Strategy
informing
roadmaps and
backlogs
Strategy and
human knowledge
Human space arcs
Strategy Cycle /
OODA
Application of
strategy
cycle to Brexit
Traverse
diagram to
produce
roadmap
Review of the
Brexit diagram
Use and review of a
visualisation practice
using Brexit model
Strategy in
context
24/11/2020
32. Intro Problem Proposed solution Using the proposal Recap Ongoing
Time
Talk Progress 4/6
How
ContentKeyPoints
Intro
Corporate
Failures
Agile
Failures
Brexit
Struggles
Battles
Wardley
Roman
Pichler
Cargo
Cult
DruckerMapping
Language
Who is
Craig &
how this
originated
Case studies
and impact of
getting things
wrong
Strategy in SAFe
Strategy
informing
roadmaps and
backlogs
Strategy and
human knowledge
Human space arcs
Strategy Cycle /
OODA
Application of
strategy
cycle to Brexit
Traverse
diagram to
produce
roadmap
Review of the
Brexit diagram
Use and review of a
visualisation practice
using Brexit model
Strategy in
context
Applying
the
temple
New
strategy
template
Template
Example
in action
Cynefin
Earlier
maps
compared
Like Football
Advantage is
non linear
Tactics for
usage
24/11/2020
33. Intro Problem Proposed solution Using the proposal Recap Ongoing
Time
Talk Progress 5/6
How
ContentKeyPoints
Intro
Corporate
Failures
Agile
Failures
Brexit
Struggles
Battles
Wardley
Roman
Pichler
Cargo
Cult
DruckerMapping
Language
Who is
Craig &
how this
originated
Case studies
and impact of
getting things
wrong
Strategy in SAFe
Strategy
informing
roadmaps and
backlogs
Strategy and
human knowledge
Human space arcs
Strategy Cycle /
OODA
Application of
strategy
cycle to Brexit
Traverse
diagram to
produce
roadmap
Review of the
Brexit diagram
Use and review of a
visualisation practice
using Brexit model
Strategy in
context
Key plus
points
Applying
the
temple
New
strategy
template
Template
Example
in action
Cynefin
Earlier
maps
compared
Wardley
link
Like Football
Advantage is
non linear
Tactics for
usage
Crossing
the river
by feeling
the stones
People,
Culture
Agile and
Lean
Key
steps
Main
plus
points
24/11/2020
34. Intro Problem Proposed solution Using the proposal Recap Ongoing
Time
Talk Progress 6/6
How
ContentKeyPoints
Intro
Corporate
Failures
Agile
Failures
Brexit
Struggles
Battles
Wardley
Roman
Pichler
Cargo
Cult
DruckerMapping
Language
Who is
Craig &
how this
originated
Case studies
and impact of
getting things
wrong
Strategy in SAFe
Strategy
informing
roadmaps and
backlogs
Strategy and
human knowledge
Human space arcs
Strategy Cycle /
OODA
Application of
strategy
cycle to Brexit
Traverse
diagram to
produce
roadmap
Review of the
Brexit diagram
Use and review of a
visualisation practice
using Brexit model
Strategy in
context
Books
and
articles
Key plus
points
Applying
the
temple
New
strategy
template
Template
Example
in action
Cynefin
Earlier
maps
compared
Wardley
link
Like Football
Advantage is
non linear
Tactics for
usage
Crossing
the river
by feeling
the stones
People,
Culture
Agile and
Lean
Key
steps
Main
plus
points
Books
Blogs
Key
people
Q&A
24/11/2020
35. Intro Problem Proposed solution Using the proposal Recap Ongoing
Time
Connect the Content
How
ContentKeyPoints
Intro
Corporate
Failures
Agile
Failures
Brexit
Struggles
Battles
Wardley
Roman
Pichler
Cargo
Cult
Drucker
Mapping
Language
Who is
Craig &
how this
originated
Case studies
and impact of
getting things
wrong
Strategy in SAFe
Strategy
informing
roadmaps and
backlogs
Strategy and
human knowledge
Human space arcs
Strategy Cycle /
OODA
Application of
strategy
cycle to Brexit
Traverse
diagram to
produce
roadmap
Review of the
Brexit diagram
Use and review of a
visualisation practice
using Brexit model
Strategy in
context
Books
and
articles
Key plus
points
Applying
the
temple
New
strategy
template
Template Example
in action
Cynefin
Earlier
maps
compared
Wardley
link
Like Football
Advantage is
non linearTactics for
usage
Crossing
the river
by feeling
the stones
People,
Culture
Agile and
Lean
Key
steps
Main
plus
points
Books
Blogs
Key
people
Q&A
Key links
36. Intro Problem Proposed solution Using the proposal Recap Ongoing
Time
Indicate Understanding
How
ContentKeyPoints
Intro
Corporate
Failures
Agile
Failures
Brexit
Struggles
Battles
Wardley
Roman
Pichler
Cargo
Cult
Drucker
Mapping
Language
Who is
Craig &
how this
originated
Case studies
and impact of
getting things
wrong
Strategy in SAFe
Strategy
informing
roadmaps and
backlogs
Strategy and
human knowledge
Human space arcs
Strategy Cycle /
OODA
Application of
strategy
cycle to Brexit
Traverse
diagram to
produce
roadmap
Review of the
Brexit diagram
Use and review of a
visualisation practice
using Brexit model
Strategy in
context
Books
and
articles
Key plus
points
Applying
the
temple
New
strategy
template
Template Example
in action
Cynefin
Earlier
maps
compared
Wardley
link
Like Football
Advantage is
non linearTactics for
usage
Crossing
the river
by feeling
the stones
People,
Culture
Agile and
Lean
Key
steps
Main
plus
points
Books
Blogs
Key
people
Q&A
Key links Got this
37. Canvas colours help with timestamps
Get the
timestamp
for the
chapter
from the
preview
24/11/2020
Craig Cockburn, www.craigcockburn.com @siliconglen
#kcanvas
43. Sir Ken Robinson’s preferred format
1. Introduction – getting settled, what will be covered
2. Context – why this issue matters
3. Main concepts
4. Practical implications
5. Conclusion
However, as Dan Pink says “say it like yourself”
.. And think about you, your content and the audience
90 million TED views
44. Intro Context Main Concepts Practical Implications Conclusion
Time
Canvas for Sir Ken’s format
How
ContentKeyPoints
46. Takeaways for speakers
Helps the speaker sort out content, activities and flow
Scales up for multi-day courses – one canvas per day
Better for “knowledge graph” type content
Visual Facilitation
Delegate Handouts
47. More Takeaways
Compatible with (some) Kanban tools
Provides structure for delegates to take notes/recap
The colour codes help you find things quickly in videos
You can still use pictures and drawings if you want
Compatible with PowerPoint Zoom
48. Further Research
How to avoid death by PowerPoint (TEDx talks)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwpi1Lm6dFo
Design tips to support neurodiversity in Education
(typography, colours, icons, contrast)
https://blog.fullfabric.com/how-to-design-visual-learning-resources-curriculum-for-neurodiverse-
audience-autism-autistic
Design for simplicity
(acronyms, link placement, clear language) https://readabilityguidelines.co.uk
Use tools besides PowerPoint (!!)
e.g. https://www.canva.com/
49. Further Reading
Mapping Inner Space by Nancy Margulies
Covers mind mapping and learning
Mapping Experiences by Jim Kalbach
Covers visualisation practices
Tool: https://agendadefender.app/ very useful for talk timings
24/11/2020 Craig Cockburn, www.craigcockburn.com @siliconglen #kcanvas
51. Intro Context Building the Canvas Examples Wrap up
Time
Knowledge Canvas Talk
How
ContentKeyPoints
Intro
TED:
Have a throughline
Failure to
remember
Pyramid
Problems
Giving
a talk
Preparing
Content
TED:
Talk structure
Some
Visualisation
Formats
Useful
Scenarios
Problems
and
opportunities
Produce a
canvas from
this
Make linear and
sized by time
List the topics
Categorise and
colour code
Make
connections
Put in order
and group
Step by step guide on
reverse engineering a talk
TakeawaysSome Examples
Link the
video to
colours
Blank
Template
Progressively
populate
Adventures
with Agile
Example
Sir Ken’s
Format
Summarise
Use Cases
- Speakers
Takeaways
This
Slide!
Key links
Q&A
Further
reading
Revision
Audience
Use Cases
Who is
Craig
Note
Taking