P ersonal L earning E nvironments Rafael Scapin, Ph.D. Coordinator of Educational Technology Office of Instructional Development Dawson College

Index Course Management Systems (CMS) Web 2.0 and Changes in Learning Connectivism Introduction to PLEs Creating your PLE Conclusions References Questions

Course Management Systems (CMS)

Web 2.0 and Changes in Learning

Connectivism

Introduction to PLEs

Creating your PLE

Conclusions

References

Questions

LMS/CMS In order to understand what a PLE is, let’s first analyze what a Course Management System (CMS) is. A Course Management System (CMS) is a web-based platform for delivering, tracking and managing courses online. Examples: Moodle, Sakai, Dokeos, ATutor , WebCT, BlackBoard, Desire2Learn Source: Wikipedia

In order to understand what a PLE is, let’s first analyze what a Course Management System (CMS) is.

A Course Management System (CMS) is a web-based platform for delivering, tracking and managing courses online.

Examples: Moodle, Sakai, Dokeos, ATutor , WebCT, BlackBoard, Desire2Learn

Source: Wikipedia

LMS/CMS Characteristics Manage users, roles, courses, instructors, and facilities and generate reports Course calendar Learning Path Student messaging and notifications Assessment/testing capable of handling student pre/post testing Display scores and transcripts Grading of coursework Web-based or blended course delivery Source: Wikipedia

Manage users, roles, courses, instructors, and facilities and generate reports

Course calendar

Learning Path

Student messaging and notifications

Assessment/testing capable of handling student pre/post testing

Display scores and transcripts

Grading of coursework

Web-based or blended course delivery

Source: Wikipedia

LMS/CMS Tools A CMS provides a collection of tools such as: assessment (particularly of types that can be marked automatically, such as multiple choice), communication, uploading of content, return of students' work, peer assessment, administration of student groups, collecting and organizing student grades, questionnaires, tracking tools, etc. New features in these systems include wikis, blogs, RSS, e-portfolios and 3D virtual learning spaces. Source: Wikipedia

A CMS provides a collection of tools such as:

assessment (particularly of types that can be marked automatically, such as multiple choice),

communication,

uploading of content,

return of students' work,

peer assessment,

administration of student groups,

collecting and organizing student grades,

questionnaires, tracking tools, etc.

New features in these systems include wikis, blogs, RSS, e-portfolios and 3D virtual learning spaces.

Source: Wikipedia

Moodle: an example of a CMS

Learning has changed! 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 R/evolution

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 R/evolution

Learning has changed! It is not the development of technology per se which poses such a challenge to education systems and educational institutions… … but the changing ways in which people are using technologies to communicate and to learn and the accompanying social effect of such use A refusal to engage in these issues risks school becoming increasingly irrelevant to the everyday lives of many young people

It is not the development of technology per se which poses such a challenge to education systems and educational institutions…

… but the changing ways in which people are using technologies to communicate and to learn and the accompanying social effect of such use

A refusal to engage in these issues risks school becoming increasingly irrelevant to the everyday lives of many young people

Learning has changed! 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 Social-networking aspects

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

Social-networking aspects

Learning has changed! Web 2.0: User is the Protagonist Web as an Information Source (v. 1.0) Web as a Participation Platform (v. 2.0)

Learning has changed! Web 2.0

Learning has changed! Web 2.0

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. George Siemens, Connectivism: A learning theory for today’s learner http://connectivism.ca/about.html

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.

Connectivism Source: Alec Couros

Connectivism 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 . Mashup: Web application that combines data from one or more sources into a single integrated tool. http://thru-you.com/

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 .

Mashup: Web application that combines data from one or more sources into a single integrated tool.

http://thru-you.com/

PLE: Definition Personal Learning Environments (PLE) are systems that help learners take control of and manage their own learning . This includes providing support for learners to set their own learning goals, manage their learning; managing both content and process communicate with others in the process of learning and thereby achieve learning goals. Source: Wikipedia

Personal Learning Environments (PLE) are systems that help learners take control of and manage their own learning .

This includes providing support for learners to set their own learning goals, manage their learning; managing both content and process

communicate with others in the process of learning

and thereby achieve learning goals.

Source: Wikipedia

PLE: Definition A PLE is NOT: A specific software application A method for creating e-learning applications

A PLE is NOT:

A specific software application

A method for creating e-learning applications

PLE: Definition 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)

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)

PLE: Definition A PLE is : An environment where you access learning from a variety of sources. A place where you do your own work. It’s not dependent on the university/school. A collection of tools and systems, not a single monolithic system. A collection of tools and systems chosen by each individual learner, rather than the university. More often than not these tools and systems will not be owned or maintained by the university.

A PLE is :

An environment where you access learning from a variety of sources.

A place where you do your own work. It’s not dependent on the university/school.

A collection of tools and systems, not a single monolithic system.

A collection of tools and systems chosen by each individual learner, rather than the university. More often than not these tools and systems will not be owned or maintained by the university.

PLE: Definition A PLE helps : View the subject as a landscape as well as individual pieces of information Create a personal repository of materials and relationships clustered around a unifying topic or concept Document , reflect, communicate, collaborate

A PLE helps :

View the subject as a landscape as well as individual pieces of information

Create a personal repository of materials and relationships clustered around a unifying topic or concept

Document , reflect, communicate, collaborate

PLE Diagram (1) Source: William F Perry

PLE Diagram (2) Source: Mohamed Amine Chatti

PLE Diagram (3) Source: David Delgado

PLE: Definition In contrast to traditional LMS-driven e-learning solutions, a Personal Learning Environment (PLE) takes a more natural and learner-centric approach and is characterized by the freeform use of a set of lightweight services and tools that belong to and are controlled by individual learners. (Mohamed Amine Chatti , 2009)

In contrast to traditional LMS-driven e-learning solutions, a Personal Learning Environment (PLE) takes a more natural and learner-centric approach and is characterized by the freeform use of a set of lightweight services and tools that belong to and are controlled by individual learners.

(Mohamed Amine Chatti , 2009)

PLE: Definition Rather than integrating different services into a centralized system, the idea is to provide the learner with a plethora of different services and hand over control to her to select, use, and mashup the services the way she deems fit. A PLE driven approach does not only provide personal spaces, which belong to and are controlled by the user, but also requires a social context by offering means to connect with other personal spaces for effective knowledge sharing and collaborative knowledge creation. (Mohamed Amine Chatti , 2009)

Rather than integrating different services into a centralized system, the idea is to provide the learner with a plethora of different services and hand over control to her to select, use, and mashup the services the way she deems fit.

A PLE driven approach does not only provide personal spaces, which belong to and are controlled by the user, but also requires a social context by offering means to connect with other personal spaces for effective knowledge sharing and collaborative knowledge creation.

(Mohamed Amine Chatti , 2009)

How to Create a PLE A PLE can be implemented by using some free Web 2.0 services available online. Web Aggregators: Netvibes PageFlakes iGoogle

A PLE can be implemented by using some free Web 2.0 services available online.

Web Aggregators:

Netvibes

PageFlakes

iGoogle

How to Create a PLE You can also use a platform to create your own social network: Ning: www.ning.com Elgg: www.elgg.org

You can also use a platform to create your own social network:

Ning: www.ning.com

Elgg: www.elgg.org

Conclusions “ PLEs are great. They’re just completely incompatible with the existing education system.” Retrieved April 9, 2009 from: http://ltc.umanitoba.ca/wordpress/category/uncategorized/ Learning Technologies Centre Research Blog

“ PLEs are great. They’re just completely incompatible with the existing education system.”

Retrieved April 9, 2009 from:

http://ltc.umanitoba.ca/wordpress/category/uncategorized/

Learning Technologies Centre Research Blog

Conclusions 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 recognises that learning is continuing and seeks to provide tools to support that learning Source: Graham Attwell

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 recognises that learning is continuing and seeks to provide tools to support that learning

Source: Graham Attwell

Conclusions The ‘pedagogy’ behind the PLE is that it offers a portal to the world, through which learners can explore and create, according to their own interests and directions, interacting at all times with their friends and community New forms of learning are based on trying things and action, rather than on more abstract knowledge. Source: Graham Attwell

The ‘pedagogy’ behind the PLE is that it offers a portal to the world, through which learners can explore and create, according to their own interests and directions, interacting at all times with their friends and community

New forms of learning are based on trying things and action, rather than on more abstract knowledge.

Source: Graham Attwell

References Connectivist Learning and the Personal Learning Environment (by Stephen Downes): Slideshare Networked Possibilities (by Alec Couros): Slideshare Colletion of PLE Diagrams: http://edtechpost.wikispaces.com/PLE+Diagrams History of Personal Learning Environments (Wikipedia) Personal Learning Environments - the future of eLearning? (Article by Graham Attwell)

Connectivist Learning and the Personal Learning Environment (by Stephen Downes): Slideshare

Networked Possibilities (by Alec Couros): Slideshare

Colletion of PLE Diagrams: http://edtechpost.wikispaces.com/PLE+Diagrams

History of Personal Learning Environments (Wikipedia)

Personal Learning Environments - the future of eLearning? (Article by Graham Attwell)

Questions

Contact Rafael Scapin Coordinator of Educational Technology Office of Instructional Development (Dawson College) E-mail: [email_address] Phone: (514) 931 8731 ext 1404 Skype: rscapin MSN: [email_address] Twitter: rscapin

Contact This presentation is available at: http://www.slideshare.net/oid