The document proposes a personal learning environment (PLE) concept based on mashup widgets to integrate university services and web resources according to individual student needs and interests. It describes PLEs as learning centers under student control where content can be reused and remixed. The concept uses W3C widgets as client-side applications that can make web requests and be integrated via a widget controller. An initial prototype was created to demonstrate performance and implementation issues that need addressing in further development, such as caching and mobile widgets.

1. Personal Learning Environment for Higher Education: A Mashup Based Widget Concept Behnam Taraghi , Martin Ebner, Sandra Schaffert

2. Special Track “Mashups for Learning” (MASHL2009) International Conference on Interactive Computer Aided Learning (ICL), Villach, Austria Social Learning Computer and Information Services Graz University of Technology

3. What is a PLE ?

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

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

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

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

8. Why we need a PLE ?

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

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

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

12. The general concept

13. Issues to consider Focus on individual needs , preferences of users Future VLE Recommendations but not automatic personalization Individuality of the interface Learning and Information environment Flexibility destroys design

14. Technological concept

15. Widget Follow a W3C Widget Specification IST Palette Project and TenCompetence „ 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

16. widget widget widget Client-side application logic (JavaScript) Widget Update JS Call Web Server Controller PHP Classes and Actions Model Database MashUp Principle - Use of Widgets XHR Request Response HTTP Request Response JSONP Request Response Remote Web Server Remote Web Server

17. Java FX „ JavaFX is a rich client platform for building cross-device applications and content. Designed to enable easy creation and deployment of RIAs with immersive media and content, the JavaFX platform ensures that RIAs look and behave consistently across diverse form factors and devices . “ http://javafx.com/docs/gettingstarted/javafx/

18. First Working Prototype

19. Prototype

20. Performance issues Minimize all CSS and JS Using GZIP compression Reduce #requests Caching

21. s Next Steps Roll Out of the Prototype Implementing Useful Widgets Special focus on learning objects Apply HTML 5 features Recommendations for different learning resources Mobile widgets

22. SOCIAL LEARNING Computer and Information Services Graz University of Technology Behnam Taraghi http://elearning.tugraz.at http://tugll. tugraz .at /96874/ Join us in Graz - http://www.iunig.at