Personal Learning EnvironmentsMohamed S.
Vardalia
University of Johannesburg
Professional Studies 3A
What is a Personal Learning Environment ?
A PLE is a system that provides learners with support so that they may take the initiative to control and regulate their own learning. This means integrating a number of “web 2.0” technologies into the students learning environment.
This includes providing support for a learner to:
• Set their own personalized goals and be reflective in their mean to achieve them.
• Control what they learn(content) and how they learn it(process).
• Communicate with others while learning (sharing ideas, asking for assistance and expressing their views and opinions).
(Dow
nes, 2
010)
A PLE is NOT:A specific software application
What is a Personal Learning Environment ?
(Dow
nes, 2
010)
A PLE is :
• A concept (based on Web 2.0 and social network) rather than specific software
• A group of techniques and a variety of tools:• to gather information • explore/develop relationships between pieces
of information • browser-based (potentially)
What is a Personal Learning Environment ?
(Wh
eele
r, 200
9)
Old way = linear, classroom based
New way = networks of people and online resources
The way we find, store, create, critique, and share information has also changed:
Information Revolution
The we learn has changed
(Wh
eele
r, 200
9)
It’s a river, not a reservoir
SurfingSensingExperiencing
Web 2.0
Emphasis on online collaboration and sharing among users
Users are encouraged to create and manage information
Applications used entirely through a Web browser
“Web 2.0” (Off
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“Web 2.0 tools”
Adapted from Steve W
heeler, University of Plym
outh, 2009
Examples of “Web 2.0” tools
A place to store (and share) my photos(flickr).A place to store and share my
videos(youtube).A place to write a collaborative paper over
summer vacation with my friend on holiday in New York(Google Docs).
A place where I can connect with other all over the world in a really affordable manner(Skype, BBM, Facebook)
A place where I can voice my opinion for the world to see(twitter).
Allows me to know where I am going before I get there(Google maps).
What is my personal learning network? (D
ow
nes, 2
00
8)
What do they mean for learners?A world of free learning resources.This means an entire reservoir of knowledge
in a number of different forms available to the learner at the touch of a button or screen.
(Dow
nes, 2
00
8)
Personalised Learning?
http://www.delasallewaterford.com
Personalized learning?
http://www.hseb.utah.edu
You decide for yourself…….
The role of the educator will change dramatically
Not a ‘sage on the stage’Neither merely that of the ‘guide by the side’Students need to be able to look to prototypes
on which to model their own workthe instructor, therefore, is required to take
an active role in the disciplinary or professional community, demonstrating tactics and techniques, and modelling the approach, language and world view of a successful practitioner.
The role of the educator in a PLE (D
ow
nes, 2
00
8)
Connectivism•An important aspect of PLEs is the concept of connectivism.
•Learning is a process of connecting specialized nodes or information sources.
•A learner can exponentially improve their own learning by plugging into an existing network.
•Knowing where to find information is more important than knowing information. Information is changing constantly and located in so many places.
•The ability to find, collect, connect and sort information among a multitude of human and computer networks is a critical skill.
(Wh
eele
r, 200
9)
Top 5 Teacher web tools
Microblog Blog Social tagging E-mail Social presence Search engine Social network Collaborative writing
Image sharing0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
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46
2624
1614
1312 12 12
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ConnectivismS
ou
rce:
Ale
c
Cou
ros
Functions of a PLE
Adapted from Duke (2009)
Learning
(Wh
eele
r, 200
9)
A PLE is an efficient tool for organization and for exploration.
By connecting different Web 2.0 resources together, learners can find other users who share their same interests and continue to build their learning network.
Why Create a conducive environment for PLEs (W
inch
el, 2
012
• PLEs are not another substantiation of educational technology but a new approach to learning.
• A response to pedagogic approaches which require that learner’s e-learning systems need to be under the control of the learners themselves.
• PLE are based on the idea that learning will take place in different contexts and situations and will not be provided by a single learning provider.
• The idea of a Personal Learning Environment recognizes that learning is continuing and seeks to provide tools to support that learning.
Conclusion (Off
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downes, s. (2008, September 25). Personal learning environments. Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.
Downes, S. (2010, November 17). The Role of the Educator in a PLE World. Moncton, new Brunswick, Canada.
Office of Instructional Development at Dawson College. (2009, October 19). personal learning environments. Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Wheeler, S. (2009, October 11). It’s Personal: Learning Spaces, Learning Web. Plymouth, Devon, united kingdom.
Winchel, R. (2012, November 8). Personal learning environment ple. Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
Bibliography