What Is Information Grazing and Why Can It Be a Dysfunction in Continuous Learning?
Information grazing is the practice of casually consuming bits of knowledge from many different sources without focus or sustained effort. Like grazing animals, learners pick at whatever is available in the moment. While it can lead to serendipitous discoveries, it often results in shallow understanding and little to no application.
Metaphor
Information grazing is like livestock nibbling whatever patch of grass happens to be in front of them. It keeps the mouth busy but never builds real strength or reserves. In continuous learning, that same scattered approach leads to lots of motion but little mastery or applied growth.
In a continuous learning context, information grazing can feel productive but leads to knowledge hoarding instead of skill-building. Without intentional application or problem-driven focus, the learning rarely sticks or translates into improved practice.
Reading random articles, blog posts, or books across unrelated topics without a guiding question or purpose. The learner may recall interesting facts but struggles to integrate them into their work or long-term growth.
Works Consulted
In addition to any sources cited above, the following works informed my thinking:(1)