This document outlines steps taken towards developing an integrated Personal Learning Environment (PLE) at the university level. It discusses concepts of a PLE according to thought leaders in the field, the need to integrate the open web into university services, and a technological concept using widgets and mashups. An initial design study included usability testing and feedback. The PLE was then launched at Graz University of Technology in October 2010, and has over 1000 registered users with 30% being highly active. Future work includes developing learning scenarios and integrating learning objects.

1. First Steps towards an
Integrated
Personal Learning Environment
at the University Level
Martin Ebner, Sandra Schön, Behnam Taraghi,
Hendrik Drachsler, Philip Tsang

3. Technology enhanced Learning
http://flickr.com/photos/powerbooktrance/289992273//

4. uLearning
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sovietuk/141381675

5. What is a PLE ?

6. According to Stephen Downes a PLE is ...
a future learning environment
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alancleaver/2441359074

7. According to Stephen Downes a PLE is ...
not an institutional or coporate
application but a learning center
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skippytpe/256929499

8. According to Stephen Downes a PLE is ...
where content is reused and
remixed
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alysser/2011022884

9. According to Stephen Downes a PLE is ...
according to the
student‘s own
needs and interests
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alysser/2011022884

10. Why we need a PLE ?

11. University a closed castle?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/toru_okada/1377360600

12. But how can we integrate the WWW ...
http://edtechpost.wikispaces.com/file/view/swl_ple2.gif (Scott Leslie, PLE Diagram)

13. and combine it with university‘s services?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghz/407109888/

14. The general concept

15. 7 crucial aspects for the shift (Schaffert&Hilzensauer, 2008)
Social Involvement Content
Ownership
Educational &
organisatioal
culture
Personalisation
Technological aspects Role of learner
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetoad01/2677459596

16. Technological concept

17. MashUp Principle - Use of Widgets
http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/J2EE/mashup_2/

18. Comparable to iGoogle

19. Widget
„Widgets are full-fledged client-side
applications that are authored using Web
standards. They are typically downloaded and
installed on a client machine or device where
they typically run as stand-alone
applications outside a Web browser“
Defintion of W3C
• Follow a W3C Widget Specification
• IST Palette Project allows exchange -
furthermore also the communicaton
between widgets

20. First Design Study

21. Central Ideas of the GUI:
„Less is more“ „the best of two worlds“
„tidy not cluttered“
http://www.flickr.com/photos/harmrhebergen/2694630

22. Brainstorming

23. First conceptual ideas

24. MockUp
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theredproject/3879832565

25. Main GUI Elements

26. Usability Tests
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rdolishny/2760207306

27. First Design

28. PersonalDashboard

29. Heuristic Evaluation, Thinking Aloud Test,
Interviews and Questionnaries carried
out ....
• - ... Personlization in foreground
(style, look & feel)
• - ... Flexibility and Creativity should
be fostered (free arrangment on
UI, ...)
• - ... Ubiquitous PLE (mobile and
desktop views)

30. PLE at TU Graz since October 2010

31. http://vimeo.com/25595446

32. General View - overall concept
http://ple.tugraz.at

33. Weather Widget
Customzation Screen
!

34. Scribd Widget Slideshare Widget

35. Blog Widget
Google Maps
!

36. Summary after the launch - PLE
• - ... has more than 1000 registered
users
• - ... has about 30% of highly active
users
• - ... uses a tracking module in the
background
• - ... `s Widgets are developed by
students

37. Future
Recommendation
Learning Scenarios
Integration of
Learning Objects (LO)
Converter for
Desktop and Mobile
http://www.flickr.com/photos/supersonic_look/1307679752

38. http://twitter.tugraz.at
Slides available at: http://elearningblog.tugraz.at
SOCIAL LEARNING
Computer and Information Services
Graz University of Technology
Graz University of Technology
Martin Ebner
http://elearningblog.tugraz.at
mebner http://elearning.tugraz.at