A cloud-based Personal Learning Environment & Network (PLE&N) for peer-based lifelong learning

Professor Eric TsuiKnowledge Management and Innovation Research

CentreThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Change in the learning environment & processLearning Paradigm has

shifted from predominantly teacher-lead classes to a mix of lectures, group discussions, reflections, in personal and group learning environments

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Google tools selected for the PLE&N (3.0) – Feedly & Google+

BPM RSS feeds in Google/Feedly Reader

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How to collaborate inside the PLE&N?

Grading Criteria for the PLE&N

Setup completed and responded to the test message – 10%

A handful contributions during the semester – 20%

Some contributions during the semester – 40%

Regular contribution(s) every fortnight throughout the semester – 60%

Regular contribution(s) in most weeks throughout the semester – 80%

Regular contribution(s) every week throughout the semester – 100%

PLE&N Contributions (ISE457 UG students)

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PLE&N Contributions (ISE531 PG students)

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Re-instate/Expand a point made with new info

Relate theory to practice

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Collecting a weak signal

A graduate & practitioner shares his experience

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Gauging students’ reaction & learn from it

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Heads up for a forthcoming lecture

Knowledge & experience

sharing among students from

different backgrounds

Mobile access

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Feedback from students from both semesters

Feedback from students from both semesters

Proactive effort by students in setting up a PLE&N

Potential usages in the corporate world• Marketing department monitors industry trends,

customer preferences and competitive intelligence

• Corporate communications department monitors all news about the company

• Research department keeps abreast of business and technology trends

• Human Resources department monitors and selects appropriate courses for learning and development

• Staff discussions on any of the received articles

Benefits of the PLE&N for everyone1. Supports a co-learning environment among

instructor(s), learners, practitioners & other expert(s)2. Access to expertise & experience3. Collaborative effort to combat information overload4. Self-centered, flexible, customisable & pervasive5. Supports lifelong learning as it is not confined to a

term/semester6. “Move with the times”; relates theories to practice7. Represents an “active knowledge repository”

benefiting the university, academics & all8. Garners an online community in the domain topic

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However, maintaining trust and quality of the discussion in the PLE&N are of utmost importance!!

Sharing of a learner’s experience

Experience sharing from past students• http://www.slideshare.net/

eric_yh_tsui/personal-learning-environment-network-plen (English)

• http://www.slideshare.net/eric_yh_tsui/user-experience-of-the-personal-learning-environment-network-plen (Putonghua)

Critical Success Factors for designing & sustaining a technology-enhanced learning tool/system

The The LearnerLearner

InnovationCommunity

Membership, Muiltimedia, Flipped

Classroom, Gamification

DIYBe involvedBe frequent

Value add (innovation, learning

process, quality of information, combat

information overload,...)

TechnologyLow entrance barrier

(Easy to install, free or almost free, little to learn)

Robust, (Almost) No maintenance effort,

Mobile access,Scaleability

Alignmentwith GoalsPersonal

Business/ResearchLifelong learning

Incentives(Marks, content,

network, just right)

Personal Learning Environment & Network (PLE&N)

The next phase…

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Students’ learning and career needs

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1) Explore interests to find the desired pursuit of development areas

2) Learn from senior people on the field 3) Build up skill-sets

1) Better organization of knowledge 2) Communication and collaboration

well with others 3) Facilitating connection

1) Communication and discussion platform with recommendations

2) Platform for obtaining and organizing different sources of knowledge

3) File-sharing system

Customised RSS feeds & tools Undergraduate

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A cloud-based Personal Learning Environment & Network (PLE&N) for peer-based lifelong learning

Professor Eric TsuiKnowledge Management and Innovation Research

CentreThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University