How I'm Preparing for the Certified Senior Advisor Exam (Without Taking It)

While I don’t plan to take the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) exam, I am using its topic framework as a guide to systematically build a strong foundation for working with older adults—especially in the area of technology use. My goal is to develop expertise at the intersection of aging and technology, ensuring that I understand key issues beyond just the tech itself.

A Structured Approach: My Senior Advisor Learning Plan (SALP)

To keep my learning intentional and organized, I developed a Senior Advisor Learning Plan (SALP), which ensures steady progress and prevents me from getting stuck on any single area. For each topic, I take the following steps:

• Identify Key Resources – Books, articles, reports, and online courses that provide foundational knowledge.
• Locate Relevant Reports – Recent studies and industry insights that highlight trends and emerging issues.
• Find News & Updates – Staying informed on policies, innovations, and real-world applications.
• Understand Key Concepts & Vocabulary – Ensuring I have a strong grasp of terminology in aging, healthcare, and technology.
• Leverage Local & Virtual Resources – Attending talks, webinars, and training sessions.
• Listen to Podcasts – A great way to absorb expert insights on aging, technology, and senior care while on the go.

How I Organize My Learning: TiddlyWiki & the SALP Tag

With so much information across different topics, I needed a way to track my progress and connect ideas. I use TiddlyWiki as my electronic notebook, tagging everything related to this learning journey with SALP (Senior Advisor Learning Plan).

How This Helps:

• Easy Retrieval: If I need to review my notes on a specific topic (e.g., long-term care financing or digital literacy for seniors), I simply search the full text of my notes or I filter based on the SALP tag.  Within the broad SALP tag category, I have more specific tags as well. 
• Connecting Ideas:  I link related topics, such as how cognitive health research intersects with AgeTech solutions like wearables and smart home devices. I make extensive use of hyperlinks within the TiddlyWiki.
• Tracking Progress: I can see which topics I’ve explored deeply and where I need more research.
• Refining My Understanding: When I revisit older notes, I update them with new insights, making my knowledge base dynamic and evolving.

How I’ve Leveraged Technology in My Learning

1. Generative AI as a Research Assistant: Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot have transformed how I process information. I use AI to:

• Summarize lengthy reports into digestible insights.
• Clarify complex topics by asking follow-up questions.
• Compare different perspectives on aging-related issues.
• Generate structured notes that I later refine and tag in my TiddlyWiki.

This has made my study sessions far more efficient, allowing me to focus on analysis rather than spending hours sifting through documents.

2. Digital Note-Taking & Concept Mapping: Beyond TiddlyWiki, I use concept maps to visualize connections between different aspects of aging and technology. This approach helps me see how topics like digital inclusion for seniors relate to health equity and access to care.

Expanding My Learning Through Events & Training

Structured self-study is important, but I also make sure to learn from experts, attend discussions, and engage with the broader community. Some standout learning opportunities I’ve taken advantage of include:

A Local Talk on Assistive Technologies – I recently attended a community event focused on assistive technologies, where a local expert discussed available technology to support the hearing impaired. Seeing real-world applications of these technologies deepened my understanding of how older adults interact with them. This was focused on what is available to everyone without our state, including the local support organizations. It was attended by people who are struggling with hearing impairments and/or their caregivers.

The Microsoft Abilities Summit – This free online event held on 3/18/2025 highlighted how AI and digital accessibility tools are transforming the lives of individuals with disabilities and older adults. Learning about Microsoft’s efforts in inclusive technology gave me insights into how mainstream tech companies are integrating accessibility features in their products. This is particularly useful to empower workers who struggle with disabilities and there are benefits to older adults as well even if older adults are not the primary target.

Senior Planet Trainings – I’ve explored some of Senior Planet’s free training sessions, which help older adults navigate digital tools with confidence. Seeing how these sessions are structured has given me ideas on how to frame AgeTech education for different learning styles.

Breaking the Age Code (Book) – Written by Becca Levy, this book explores how our beliefs about aging directly impact longevity, health, and even cognitive function. Levy’s research-backed insights have challenged me to think critically about how ageism shapes technology adoption and how shifting mindsets could improve older adults’ engagement with digital tools.

Key Takeaway: Learning Without Limits

The CSA exam topics provide a useful structure, but real learning isn’t about passing a test—it’s about building meaningful, applicable knowledge. By combining structured study methods with digital tools like TiddlyWiki, Generative AI, concept mapping, and real-world events, I’m shaping a personalized, evolving learning journey that supports my work in AgeTech and older adult learning.

If you’re considering an independent study project, whether for professional development or personal growth, finding a structured approach, leveraging technology, and engaging with real-world learning opportunities can make all the difference.

Developing a Course on Personal Knowledge Management

For years, maybe even decades, I have considered developing a course on Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) but never found the right demand or audience.

I think I have now found both.

Encore Learning, a local nonprofit, relies primarily on volunteers to develop and deliver courses for a highly engaged audience: retired professionals who love to learn. Many have extensive experience and enjoy rich discussions with fellow adult students. The organization partners with George Mason University (GMU), and many of its instructors, like myself, are former faculty members. Next fall (2025), I will be teaching my first course in the Encore Learning catalog, likely in the same building and perhaps even the same classrooms where I taught Knowledge Management (KM) for seven years.  No exams, no grading, shorter teaching sessions, therefore less stress and more enjoyment.

While my previous KM course within the ODKM Program at GMU focused on organizational settings, this new course shifts the lens to personal knowledge—how we manage what we know as individuals, how we continue learning, and how we navigate knowledge in our later years. 

My initial course proposal was accepted, and just yesterday, I submitted a more detailed course description. Over the next few months, I will be designing the full curriculum with six sessions, each 90 minutes long. I already have some ideas and look forward to shaping the content.

This course is just the beginning. I envision it as the first in a three-part series exploring the intersection of knowledge, technology, and aging, with a focus on how Generative AI fits into this evolving landscape.

More to come as I refine the details.

Breaking the Age Code on Technology: Why We Need a New Narrative on Aging & Digital Literacy

Changing the Narrative

What if the biggest barrier to older adults learning technology isn’t the technology itself—but the way we think about aging?

For too long, we’ve heard the same outdated narrative: Older adults struggle with tech. They’re not digital natives. Learning new technology is too hard later in life.

But what if these beliefs are not just false—but actually holding people back?

(As as side note, the novel I'm working on includes a character in the 90+ age range who is totally badass around technology.  I want to be like her when/if I get to that wise age). 

Research from psychologist Becca Levy, described in her book, Breaking the Age Code, has shown that our beliefs about aging shape our cognitive abilities, health, and even how long we live. Dr. Levy's book does not focus on beliefs around technology and older adults, but that's where my mind went reading her book.  If we assume older adults can’t learn technology, they start to believe it too—creating a self-fulfilling cycle that leaves them out of the digital world.

It’s time to disrupt these myths and create a future where digital literacy is a lifelong journey, not something that stops at a certain age.  At the same time, it's important to also address another element:  Digital Equity.  The problem isn't just mindset, it's access and inclusion.  

What Have I been Doing about it?

I used to work very globally, now I work very locally.  In a series of projects very early in my career (late 1990s), I worked on efforts to eliminate the digital divide by providing access to computers and the nascent internet in so-called developing countries. It turned out cell phones would have a much more significant impact. I also co-authored a book on telecenters, an approach to provide community access to technology and the internet. Today, even in the United States, there are community access points, including in libraries.  Technology has advanced, access has improved.  A few decades later, challenges remain, not just globally but even locally in the United States. 

I live in what I would consider a privileged location, yet some of my neighbors, and especially older adults, may lack access to what we might consider basic technology and access to the Internet. Our county recently launched a Digital Equity Initiative. I hope to contribute to that effort in some way.  

I have started providing basic informational sessions through various existing programs, our community centers' 55+ program, the non-profit Arlington Neighborhood Village (ANV) that provides volunteer services for older adults, and soon (I hope) our network of libraries. So far I have focused on sessions to introduce Generative AI.  There is high demand for a much broader range of learning opportunities around technology.   There are also organizations that provide support and services more broadly, like AARP and its Senior Planet program, for example. 

What’s Next?

I’d like to put together a webinar exploring the psychology of aging and how we can rethink digital literacy for older adults. We would discuss:

• The surprising research on mindset and aging.
• Why some older adults thrive with technology—and how we can support more people to do the same.
• Strategies for making technology (and not just AgeTech) more accessible, intuitive, and empowering.
• Connections between aging and digital equity.

In the meantime, I am also super excited to have been accepted as a speaker at the 2025 Certified Senior Advisor Conference in Baltimore.  I have a few months to prepare and my proposed talk is fully aligned with, yet distinct from the webinar I just outlined.  As a result, I will likely have more to say on the subject and this might be the first in a series of posts on Digital Literacy and Aging. 

And for no other reason than the thought that spring is coming, here is a picture from my backyard. 

Hellebore - 3/12/2025

Exploring the Relationship Between Knowledge and Fiction (Part 6: World Building and Personal Knowledge Management)

 This is the sixth and second to last post in the "Knowledge and Fiction" series.

The Knowledge Challenge of Fiction Writing

Writing fiction—especially speculative or historical fiction—demands an extraordinary level of research. That research needs to be organized.

World-building is not just about crafting an engaging setting; it requires managing vast amounts of knowledge. History, geography, societal structures, technological advancements, magic systems—every aspect must be carefully tracked to ensure consistency, immersion, and logic. It’s not just about invention; it’s about maintaining coherence across every layer of the story. Without a structured approach, even the most imaginative worlds can become riddled with inconsistencies.

This is where Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) becomes invaluable. Writers use a variety of systems, from handwritten notes and spreadsheets to wikis and specialized writing software, all in an effort to bring order to the complexity of their fictional worlds. But how can a writer develop a PKM approach that enhances creativity rather than stifles it? That’s the question at the heart of this post.

World-Building as a Knowledge Management Challenge

Whether constructing a sprawling fantasy realm, an intricate futuristic society, or an alternate-history version of our own world, writers must manage deeply interconnected knowledge structures. Geography and environment shape the physical space where the story unfolds, while cultural and societal elements—laws, traditions, religions, economies, and languages—breathe life into that world. A coherent history, filled with past wars, legendary figures, and societal shifts, provides depth and realism.

Technology, whether futuristic, fantastical, or rooted in real-world mechanics, must follow its own rules to maintain credibility. Even magic systems operate within constraints, as seen in stories like Harry Potter, where magic follows established principles. Meanwhile, characters and their relationships introduce another layer of complexity—who knows what, how knowledge spreads, and what information remains hidden. Managing these details effectively leads to greater reader immersion, more creative freedom in plotting, and improved story consistency.

Personal Knowledge Management for Fiction Writers

A writer’s PKM system doesn’t have to be complex, but it should serve three primary functions: capturing and organizing research, managing world-building details, and structuring knowledge in a way that supports the writing process.

Capturing and organizing research is often the first challenge. Some rely on digital tools like Obsidian, Notion, or TiddlyWiki, while others prefer physical notebooks and index cards. Methods such as outlining, mind mapping, and knowledge graphs help structure information, but the real challenge is avoiding research rabbit holes—capturing key insights without getting lost in endless details.

Once research is gathered, managing world-building details becomes crucial. Many writers develop a "story bible," a centralized repository for characters, locations, and themes. Tracking changes over multiple drafts ensures internal consistency, with tagging and linking systems providing quick access to critical information.

Finally, structuring knowledge for writing flow involves chronological tracking, selective disclosure of information, and layering knowledge within the narrative. A well-organized timeline keeps fictional events aligned, while a thoughtful approach to revealing information keeps readers engaged without overwhelming them.

Tools and Techniques for Managing Fictional Knowledge

Different writers approach PKM in unique ways, drawing from both analog and digital methods.

Some, like J.K. Rowling, have famously relied on handwritten spreadsheets to track subplots, while Neil Gaiman fills notebooks with dialogue snippets and sketches. Ursula K. Le Guin created extensive maps and linguistic notes to bring her worlds to life. Even in the digital age, many writers still prefer tactile approaches that allow for a deeper connection to their ideas.

Others turn to digital note-taking and wikis. Brandon Sanderson maintains a wiki-style database to track continuity in his Cosmere universe, a method so effective that even his fans have created wikis to keep up with his expanding world. Digital tools allow for cross-referencing and rapid retrieval of details, ensuring consistency in long-running series.

Visual knowledge management is another powerful approach. Writers like Jeff VanderMeer use visual notebooks with sketches and mind maps to explore relationships between ideas. J.R.R. Tolkien, often believed to have meticulously planned every detail of The Lord of the Rings, may have worked in a more organic way than commonly assumed, but his extensive linguistic and genealogical work illustrates the value of structured world-building.

Some writers go even further, developing expansive story bibles. George R.R. Martin has compiled massive reference materials to maintain consistency in A Song of Ice and Fire, while Margaret Atwood blends real-world research with fictional extrapolation to create immersive dystopian settings. A strong knowledge repository allows for a richer, more believable world.

My Personal Knowledge Management Approach

In my own writing process, I’m experimenting with a hybrid approach. TiddlyWiki serves as my primary tool for tracking interconnected ideas—themes, research notes, and plotlines. I’ve even written an entire novel in TiddlyWiki format before, a testament to its flexibility. TiddlyMap helps me visualize relationships between characters, settings, and knowledge nodes, while concept mapping allows me to structure my world’s evolution, tracking past events and their impact on present conflicts.

Despite this structured approach, I’m still working through challenges. One of the biggest is balancing planning with organic discovery. My notes contain a lot of early research that no longer aligns with the current draft, making systematic updates necessary. Another challenge is avoiding over-researching at the expense of writing. There’s a fine line between preparation and procrastination. Lastly, refining my knowledge scaffolding—deciding when and how to reveal information in the narrative—remains an ongoing process.

Like any knowledge system, my approach isn’t static. I revisit and refine it as the story grows.

Why PKM Matters for Fiction Writers

At its core, Personal Knowledge Management helps writers keep track of ideas, avoid inconsistencies, and free up creative energy by reducing cognitive load. Whether you’re a meticulous planner or an intuitive storyteller, a structured system for capturing, organizing, and retrieving knowledge can transform the creative process.

Key takeaway

• A world-building PKM system doesn’t need to be complex—it just needs to work for you.
• Whether you prefer analog methods, digital tools, or a hybrid approach, the most important aspect is retrievability. Can you find what you need when you need it? 
• Think of your knowledge repository as a living system, something that evolves alongside your novel.

What’s Next?

In the last post of this series, I’ll explore books about writing that I have accumulated over the years on my bookshelf.