Tacit knowledge is knowledge that is difficult to describe because it operates below the level of conscious awareness and is acquired through practical experience rather than direct instruction. Examples include skills like riding a bike, cooking without a recipe, and creating pottery. Tacit knowledge increases with job experience and may be a better predictor of career success than general intelligence.

1. Tacit KnowledgeTacit knowledge is implicit and operates below the level of conscious awareness (Gredler, 2009,p. 198).

2. Tacit Knowledge: DefinitionTerm was coined by Michael Polanyi.Unspoken knowledge meaning that we do not describe how something is done.Sometimes called knowledge of experience.Comes from practical experience.Acquired without the help of others or direct instruction.Difficult to describe.

3. Tacit Knowledge: ExamplesRiding a bike.Steering a canoe.Leading someone to a location without being able to verbally give directions.Cooking a dish without a recipe.Creating pottery on a kick wheel.Goldsmith’s ability to create jewelry.French braiding hair.

4. Tacit Knowledge: ApplicationsMay be able to predict future success of an individual’s academic performance.May be a better predictor of career success than general intelligence.Tacit knowledge increases with job experience.

5. Tacit Knowledge: ReferencesGredler, M.E. (2009). Learning and instruction: Theory into practice. (6th ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.Insch, G. S., McIntyre, N., & Dawley, D. (2008). Tacit knowledge: A refinement and empirical test of the academic tacit knowledge scale. Journal of Psychology, 142(6), 561-580. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.Smith, M. K. (2003) Michael Polanyi and tacit knowledge. The encyclopedia of informal education. Retrieved from www.infed.org/thinkers/polanyi.htm.Waters, M. (2005, April). Schon and reflective practice. Retrieved from http://www.resources.scalingtheheights.com/Schon20and%20Reflective%20Practice.htm