A personal learning environment (PLE) allows learners to take control of and regulate their own learning by integrating various web 2.0 technologies. A PLE is a concept based on social networks rather than specific software, utilizing a variety of tools to gather information, explore relationships between pieces of information, and share ideas. It emphasizes online collaboration and sharing among users to encourage creating and managing information. A PLE represents a shift from traditional classroom-based linear learning to networks of people and online resources.

1. Personal Learning
Environments
Mohamed S.
Vardalia
University of
Johannesburg
Professional
Studies 3A

2. What is a Personal Learning
Environment ?
A PLE is a system that provides learners with support so that
they may take the initiative to control and regulate their own
learning. This means integrating a number of “web 2.0”
technologies into the students learning environment.
This includes providing support for a learner to:
• Set their own personalized goals and be reflective in their mean to achieve
them.
• Control what they learn(content) and how they learn it(process).
• Communicate with others while learning (sharing ideas, asking for
assistance and expressing their views and opinions).
(Downes,2010)

3. A PLE is NOT:
 A specific software application
(Downes,2010)

4. 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)
(Wheeler,2009)

5.  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 Revolution
(Wheeler,2009)

6. It’s a
river,
not a
reser
r
Surfing
Sensing
Experiencing
Web 2.0

7.  Emphasis on online collaboration and sharing among
users
 Users are encouraged to create and manage
information
 Applications used entirely through a Web browser
(OfficeofInstructionalDevelopmentatDawson
College,2009

8. “Web 2.0
tools”
AdaptedfromSteveWheeler,UniversityofPlymouth,2009
Examples of “Web 2.0” tools

9.  A place to store (and share) my photos(flickr).
 A place to store and share my videos(youtube).
 A place to write a collaborative paper over summer
vacation with my friend on holiday in New
York(Google Docs).
 A place where I can connect with other all over the
world in a really affordable
manner(Skype, BBM, Facebook)
 A place where I can voice my opinion for the world to
see(twitter).
 Allows me to know where I am going before I get
there(Google maps).
(Downes,2008)

10. A world of free learning resources.
 This means an entire reservoir of knowledge in a
number of different forms available to the learner at
the touch of a button or screen.
(Downes,2008)

11. Personalised Learning?
http://www.delasallewaterford.com

12. http://www.hseb.utah.edu

14.  The role of the educator will change dramatically
 Not a ‘sage on the stage’
 Neither merely that of the ‘guide by the side’
 Students need to be able to look to prototypes on
which to model their own work
 the instructor, therefore, is required to take an active
role in the disciplinary or professional
community, demonstrating tactics and
techniques, and modelling the approach, language
and world view of a successful practitioner.
(Downes,2008)

15. •An important aspect of PLEs is the concept of 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. 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.
(Wheeler,2009)

17. Source:Alec
Couros

18. Adapted from Duke (2009)
Learning
(Wheeler,2009)

19.  A PLE is an efficient tool for organization and for
exploration.
 By connecting different Web 2.0 resources
together, learners can find other users who share their
same interests and continue to build their learning
network.
(Winchel,2012

20. • 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
recognizes that learning is continuing and seeks to
provide tools to support that learning.
(OfficeofInstructionalDevelopmentatDawson
College,2009

21.  downes, s. (2008, September 25). Personal learning
environments. Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.
 Downes, S. (2010, November 17). The Role of the Educator
in a PLE World. Moncton, new Brunswick, Canada.
 Office of Instructional Development at Dawson College.
(2009, October 19). personal learning environments.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
 Wheeler, S. (2009, October 11). It’s Personal: Learning
Spaces, Learning Web. Plymouth, Devon, united kingdom.
 Winchel, R. (2012, November 8). Personal learning
environment ple. Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.