Join my PIM Lecture at TU Graz

Starting with October 2021, I'm going to do my lecture on Personal Information Management (PIM) at the Graz University of Technology as well. So far, I did it at the University of Applied Science St. Pölten for a couple of years. I am proud to report that I always had excellent student feedback there.

For this new lecture, I do have the pleasure of being able to extend the content as it covers two hours a week (2 SMS or 2 ECTS).

The short summary is:

Through self-enabled, tool-independent requirement engineering and objective market exploration, attendees of this lecture should be able to decide on well-suited solutions in terms of workflows/processes and tools for Personal Information Management.

Watch my promo video:

It's about improving (personal) decision processes, requirements, methods & tools:

• Learning how the process works to find matching methods and tools
• Learning (new) methods
• Only a few tools will get mentioned but focus is on general patterns and methods instead
• Get in touch with some new PIM-topics
• Reflect on your own PIM
• Apply PIM methods on your own PIM
• Make conscious PIM decisions

There is a clear non-goal: It's not about judging people or their set of requirements. Every tool has its justification related to a certain set of requirements.

If you are curious on computer basics and how to use the computer as a tool to get to a certain level of efficiency, you are most probably within the target audience:

• Willingness to learn and improve.
• Desire to adapt tools to requirements.
• Efficient storing, processing, curating and retrieving of (digital) information.
• Emphasis on "managing my own stuff" (in contrast to collaborative processes).
• Long-term benefits due to deliberate and conscious tool choices.
  • Avoiding long-term data-loss or lock-in situations.
• Going digital while respecting privacy & security.

Due to the nature of the topic, the content is mixture of:

• (personal) experiences and recommendations,
• well-proven methods,
• best practices and
• some scientific results.

Consider this lecture as a form of soft skill training to optimize digital "survival".

1. Mind-Set: My personal PIM philosophy and some context.
2. Choosing a Tool … the right way.
3. Catalog - PIM workflows every knowledge worker should use:
   1. Knowledge-Management
   2. Time Management
   3. Todo Management
   4. Calendar
   5. File Management
   6. Directed Communication (Email, …)
   7. Learning & Input Processing
   8. Authoring Text
   9. Browsing the WWW
4. Students talking about their PIM experience
   • The most fun part for me!

• Title: Basics of Personal Information Management: The Efficient Knowledge Worker
  • LV Number: 716.234
• TU Graz Online page → enlist via TU Graz Online
• Students of KF Uni Graz are able to attend:
  • Either you are already studying something that is connected to TU Graz via NAWI.
  • Or you just have to visit the Studienservice and ask for "Mitbelegung für die LV an der TU".
• Time: each Friday 2:15pm until 3:45pm
  • no lectures on 2021-10-08 and 2021-11-26
• Room: Seminarraum IST (Inffeldgasse 16b, top floor)
  • I try to avoid pandemic-related remote sessions as long as possible in order to allow discussions in real-life.
• VU → Compulsory attendance.
• As with all lectures in the master programme of the TU Graz, lecture language will be in my best approximation of English.
• There will be no recording.
• Lecture is currently in no curriculum ("Freifach").

At 2021-10-01 there will be a brief meeting with introduction of myself and the attendees in order to find out what drives you the most. You can ask me anything, get a first impression of the lecture and express your interest in certain topics.

Lectures on 2021-10-08 and 2021-11-26 has to be skipped due to a business trip. Lecture content starts at 2021-10-15. I'm afraid that most students are skipping the first day of the semester because it's a Friday. However, I will make the meeting at 2021-10-01 as beneficial as possible for all students that are attending.

You get your grade by presenting your own PIM situation. Nothing you should be afraid of. You can consider this lecture an easy one with respect to "getting a grade" (2 SMS or 2 ECTS). Main focus is that you learn something from me and - not to forget - from all other attendees of the lecture.

I am really looking forward meeting you in class!