Knowledge Translation (KT) Best Practices for Networks of Centres of Excellence

By: Anneliese Poetz, KT Manager, NeuroDevNet

It all started in Halifax at the NCE KT Best Practices Symposium, hosted by MEOPAR when the NCE Secretariat co-presented with David Phipps and me on indicators and reporting for Knowledge Translation (otherwise known as KM or Knowledge Mobilization).  Afterwards, we were invited to co-present on the first day of a 2-day meeting that took place in Ottawa on March 30 and 31, 2015 on KT Best Practices for NCEs.

David J. Phipps, Lead, Knowledge Translation (KT) Core, NeuroDevNet. Photo by: Hans Posthuma Photography. Manager, Communications – NCE Secretariat

The day that David and I co-facilitated the meeting in Ottawa on behalf of NeuroDevNet, there were 2 other NCEs (Canadian Water Network, PREVNet) and the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health who also actively participated presenting their tools for KT.  There was a lot of behind the scenes preparation in the months and days leading up to the event.   Each of these 3 organizations provided tools they had created for themselves: CWN and CYMH shared their KT planning tools, while PREVNet’s contribution was an example of an evidence-informed tool for practitioners.

David moderated part 1, which consisted of presentations, panel discussion and Q&A for each of the 3 tools.  Once the audience had a chance to learn what the tools were all about, I facilitated part 2 which was all about applying them.  The KT planning tools were applied to case studies from their respective organizations, and also to the PREVNet anti-bullying guide which was adapted to be a real-life ‘case study’ – in essence, the group would help develop a KT plan for PREVNet to be able to achieve the greatest awareness, dissemination and eventual uptake, implementation and impact of their KT product.

Photo by: Hans Posthuma Photography. Manager, Communications – NCE Secretariat

Representatives from each of these 3 organizations circulated amongst the participants to answer questions and provide guidance if needed.  Overall, the group of over 60 NCE executives took the task seriously and came up with some great ideas!  When the break out groups reported back to the large group, their feedback was typed onto a large screen ‘live’ so everyone could see, and so there would be a record of their ideas – especially for the benefit of PREVNet so they could apply the KT planning ideas suggested by the group.

Sharing tools for KT is important because it helps advance the field of KT, the sense of community among NCEs, and perhaps most importantly maximize the potential for each NCE to achieve the uptake, implementation and impact of their research findings.  Providing attendees the opportunity to learn about and then apply one of the tools in a small group (social learning) was intended to increase the likelihood that they’d use (or adapt) one or more of the tools to their own NCE’s context.

“David and Anneliese facilitated a great hands-on practical session.  Solid KM practices are increasingly recognized as important elements of a network’s strategic plan.  The participants were left with a variety of very useful tools to choose from and apply to their unique needs.”
– Stéphanie Michaud, Deputy Director of the NCE program

The KT Core provides support for KT Events. If you are planning an event that has a KT component, contact the KT Core to find out how we can help.

Infographics for Knowledge Translation

By: Isaac Coplan, Kt Coordinator, NeuroDevNet 
The word infographic is an abbreviation of the term “Information Graphic”. Increasingly, these forms of data visualization have used in knowledge translation as a tool for disseminating research and sharing the findings of evaluations. The overall goal of NeuroDevNet’s KT Core is to influence policy and practice using network generated knowledge. Infographics provide a quick visual representation of the main messages in research. This makes them accessible to busy; decision makers/policy makers, practitioners, researchers, students, parents and families.

The rising application of infographics has been accompanied by conversations about incorporating visualization into post-secondary learning environments. Thompson (2015) discusses the concept of allowing students to create a ‘visual legacy’ through infographics. This meant bringing research projects to broader audiences by incorporating infographics.  Incorporating critical analysis of infographics also allows students to analyze the information that they are receiving, and practice creating a good visualization.

While infographics can be a persuasive tool, one of the overarching challenges of data visualization is the presentation both appealing and representative visualizations. This is the central argument that Tufte (2006) takes up in the book ‘Beautiful Evidence’. The opening pages quote famed Italian Astronomer/Physicist/Mathematician Galileo Galilei:

“What was observed by is the nature or matter of the Milky Way itself, which with the aid of the spyglass, may be observed so well that all the disputes that for so many generations have vexed philosophers are destroyed by visible certainty, and we are liberated from wordy arguments.”

demonstrating that while tools (like infographics) are new, debates around visualization are old and deeply rooted in scientific discussions. Tufte (2006) also argues that creating any good data visualization means paying attention to the quality of information and the accuracy of presentations:

“consumers of presentations should insist that presenters be held intellectually and ethically responsible for what they show and tell. Thus consuming a presentation is also an intellectual and a moral activity.”

It is this ethic that separates a good infographic, produced with attention to research, from an advertisement or infographic that is not based on research or accurate data.

NeuroDevNet has introduced a new KT product, infographics. Here is a quote from one of our researchers who recognizes the value of infographics for dissemination:

“Researchers generate knowledge, but it needs to inform to have impact. As research methods evolve, so do the ways of sharing information to others. Infographics represent a valuable way to do just that – to get main messages across in an accessible way to lay audiences. It’s a way to start a conversation, plant a seed, generate interest and bring people in to learn more.”

– Dr. Jonathan Weiss, Associate Professor, CIHR Chair in Autism Spectrum Disorders Treatment and Care Research

It is with this in mind that we began the process of creating the first infographic with NeuroDevNet Trainees Tamara Bodnar and Parker Holman. Tamara & Parker worked on a project where they introduced teachers to current scientific research that could be integrated into the  science curriculum. The project was delivered during a professional development day.

The following infographic was created using data collected to evaluate the  professional development day.

(Click on Infographic to open in a new window)

What did Tamara and Parker have to say?

“Infographics are a great way to present complicated data in a simplified way to disseminate a clear message about research; even for an activity as basic as our professional development day, infographics really help distill the main point of a project. The infographic really takes the burden of presenting our project to various audiences away from us, allowing the project to really speak for itself; the infographic is a nice, concise snapshot of our activities and response from stakeholders that is informative and easy to follow.”

If you are a NeuroDevNet researcher or trainee and would like to make an infographic, contact the KT Core!