This document summarizes the development of personal learning environments (PLEs) at Graz University of Technology. Generation 2.0 of their PLE features an app-like graphical user interface with spaces to organize widgets. Usability tests found that learners wanted more personalization and resemblance to real desktop environments. The PLE now allows for inter-widget communication, notifications, and mobile access. Over 3000 users are registered, with 30% actively using the PLE. Next steps include developing mobile apps and integrating more learning objects while enabling collaborative learning scenarios.

1. Personal Learning Environment
Generation 2.0
Martin Ebner, Behnam Taraghi, Clemens Kroell

2. http://www.facebook.com/
martin.ebner
http://
elearningblog.
tugraz.at
http://www.martinebner.at
https://twitter.com/#!/
mebner

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

4. uLearning = {u-Environment, u-Contents,
u-Behaviour, u-Interface, u-Service}
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. http://vimeo.com/25595446

11. Why we need a PLE ?

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

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

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

15. The general concept

16. 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

17. Technological concept

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

19. Comparable to iGoogle

20. 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
• Inter-widget Communication supported

21. First Design

22. First conceptual ideas

23. Main former GUI Elements

24. Former Workflow
WidgetZone Widget Zoom
Mashup of
Widgets
Dashboard FullScreen

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

26. Personalization in foreground
E.g. own desktop background image, look & feel etc.
Different UI structures & themes
Total control of own environment is desired!
Resemblance btw. Real and virtual world
More than one Personal Desktop vs. An unlimited Desktop
Free widget arrangement on UI
Flexible widget dimensions
Drag & Drop effects vs. simple clicks
Sharing, collaboration, networking
Ubiquitous PLE
Mobile and desktop views

27. PLE Concept (What)
Unknown to all test users
PLE Workflow (How)
Not easy to get started with
Due to unfamiliar concept
Introduction, tutorials for novel users strongly recommended
PLE Competences
Self-organization
Self-cognition
….
A Change from Teacher-Controlled to Coaching
needed!

28. New Conceptual Design: App-like GUI
http://bentleygsa.org/gmo/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/photo.png

29. Text
Main new GUI Elements:
Spaces (Personal Desktops)
Space Management
Widget Store
Settings

30. Space Management

31. Widget Store

32. „Slideshare“ Widget (full sized view)

33. Inter-Widget Communicatioun
CMS widget <=> Exam Planer widget

34. Main Outcomes of Generation 2.0
- ... more than 3000 registered users
- ... about 30% of active users
- ... observed more activity, resemblance to mobile apps
- ... learners classify their widgets using spaces
- ... widgets can send notifications
- ... Inter-Widget communication actively used.

35. Personal Learning Environment - Graz University of Technology
Next Steps
Mobile PLE
Ubiquitous PLE Desktop widgets
Native Apps

36. Future
Recommendation
Learning Scenarios
Shared PLE
Collaborative Learning
Integration of more
Learning Objects (LO)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/supersonic_look/1307679752

37. 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