I am a PhD candidate in Information Systems at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas. I am the founder of Decentra Press (https://decentrapress.com), an emerging tech education platform dedicated to empowering the next generation of innovators. In addition, I have an extensive background in consumer product branding, and you can view my portfolio at www.nonstack.com.
Origins in Academic Pursuit
This website’s inception was rooted in my academic journey, specifically my pursuit of a PhD. Unlike many sites designed with a broad audience in mind, this digital space was initially crafted as a personal tool to support my studies and research. It became an integral part of my academic process, serving as a digital journal where I meticulously documented my daily learnings, insights, and academic progress.
The Power of Writing and Teaching
As I delved deeper into my studies, I discovered a powerful learning technique that became the cornerstone of this website’s content creation process. When encountering new and complex topics, I found that writing about them in real-time significantly enhanced my understanding. This practice of immediate documentation served multiple purposes:
- Reinforcement of Learning: The act of articulating newly acquired knowledge in written form helped solidify concepts in my mind.
- Clarity Through Explanation: Attempting to explain complex ideas in simple terms forced me to truly grasp the subject matter.
- Future Reference: These written records became invaluable resources for quick review and refreshing my memory on previously studied topics.
Expanding to Multimedia
While writing formed the foundation of my learning process, I soon recognized the additional benefits of creating video content. Producing videos about the topics I was studying introduced a new dimension to my learning approach:
- Verbal Articulation: Explaining concepts aloud in a structured manner further reinforced my understanding.
- Visual Learning: Creating visual aids and demonstrations for videos helped me internalize abstract concepts.
- Repetition and Review: The process of planning, recording, and editing videos provided multiple opportunities to engage with the material.
A Digital Notebook
In essence, this website evolved into a comprehensive digital notebook. It became a repository of knowledge, reflections, and academic growth. The content spans a wide range of topics, mirroring the breadth of my academic interests and the diverse subjects encountered during my PhD journey. This digital format offered several advantages over traditional note-taking methods:
- Searchability: Easily locate specific information across years of study.
- Accessibility: Access my notes from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Multimedia Integration: Seamlessly combine text, images, and video content.
An Unexpected Audience
While the primary purpose of this site was, and largely remains, a tool for my personal academic development, an unexpected but welcome development occurred. Over time, others began discovering this repository of knowledge. What started as a personal journal has gradually transformed into a resource that others find valuable.
To those who have found their way here:
- You’re warmly welcomed to explore the content.
- Feel free to learn alongside me as you navigate through various topics.
- Understand that the content wasn’t originally crafted with a wider audience in mind, which may be reflected in its style and presentation.
- Your presence and interest are appreciated, and I hope you find value in the knowledge shared here.
Looking Forward
As this website continues to grow and evolve, it maintains its core purpose as a personal learning tool. However, knowing that others may benefit from this accumulated knowledge adds an extra layer of motivation to continue documenting and sharing my academic journey.
Whether you’re a fellow academic, a curious learner, or someone who stumbled upon this site by chance, I invite you to engage with the content, draw inspiration, and perhaps embark on your own journey of discovery and documentation.
Remember, every piece of content here represents a step in my learning process. It’s a testament to the power of continuous learning, the value of documentation, and the unexpected ways in which personal growth can resonate with others.’
Chinonso Anyaehie is an Information Systems PhD student at the University of Arkansas, researching how managers can align cybersecurity governance with business objectives. He is the founder of DecentraPress.com, a web3 education platform, and Nonstack.com, a consumer product goods branding agency.