Presentation in PleConf 2012 Aveiro

1. FIRST TIME BUILDING OF A PLE IN
AN ICT POST GRADUATION COURSE:
MAIN FUNCTIONS AND TOOLS
João Paz
Instituto Piaget - Universidade Aberta
jpaz@almada.ipiaget.org

2. OVERVIEW
• Context
• Research objectives
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusions
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3. CONTEXT
• ICT Post-Graduation course in Portuguese Higher Education institution (DE
regime Moodle)
• Curricular Unit: Virtual Learning Environments (50 H – 1 month)
• Module: Learning in Networks: from Learning Management Systems
(LMS) to Personal Learning Environments (PLE) – 1 week
• Previous modules: closed institutional Moodle LMS
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4. COURSE MODULE INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN
1 week – 4 groups (one in teaching role) - 3 assignments
1. Propose and tag 5 tools in Diigo group PLE TOOLS
2. Debate LMS or/and PLE issues in Google+
3. Design and publish their PLE (in a web 2.0 tool): http://bit.ly/o2MZIj
Communication: Skype/Moodle forum/Twitter
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5. STUDY OBJECTIVES
1. To develop a model of the main PLE functions and represent it in a
graphical way.
2. To identify the most represented PLE functions and tools in the
students' first time building of a PLE.
3. To infer about students' learning conceptions based on their tool
choices.
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6. METHODS
• Literature review to develop a PLE Main Functions Model.
• Content analysis of student’s PLEs representations using the PLE
Main Functions Model categories.
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7. DIFICULTIES
PLE main functions?
Generic PLE?
Tools with multiple
functions?
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8. THE PLE MAIN FUNCTIONS - PROPOSALS
Physiology of a PLE (S. Wheeler) http://steve- How do you manage your information?(G.Siemens)
wheeler.blogspot.pt/2010/07/physiology-of- https://landing.athabascau.ca/pg/blog/read/19803/ho
ple.html w-do-you-manage-your-information
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9. THE PLE MAIN FUNCTIONS MODEL
HTTP://DB.TT/WTDVK9A9
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10. RESULTS
Most referred tools in students' PLEs (%)
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11. RESULTS
Students choices assuming only each tool main function
PROJECT
PLE interface
MANAGEMENT
ORGANIZING 4% COMMUNICATING/CO
1%
11% LLABORATING
36%
SEARCHING
19%
PUBLISHING/SHARIN
CREATING G
20% 9%
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12. RESULTS
Students choices assuming multiple functions of the tools
PLE interface PROJECT
2% MANAGEMENT
ORGANIZING 3% COMMUNICATING/COL
14% LABORATING 30%
SEARCHING
24% PUBLISHING/SHARING
20%
CREATING
14%
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13. RESULTS
PLEs FUNCTIONS AND TOOLS
THE BRAIN
http://webbrain.com/u/139E
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14. CONCLUSIONS
• Most represented functions: interacting/searching/creating
• Less represented functions: managing learning
Study limitations
• First time building of PLE
• Difficult to infer from tools selection to their use
Further research
• Interviews or screencasts add in assignment
• Tools affordances angle
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15. THANK YOU!
jpaz@almada.ipiaget.org
Twitter: @jpaztwtr
Google+: http://gplus.to/joaopaz
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