The Design and Development of a Personal Learning

Environment: Researching the Learner experience

PLE ProjectLearning and Collaborative

Technologies GroupMonctonCanada

Rita Kop

The learning environment

Three major challenges to educators and educational

systems

1. ‘Redesign educational practices to meet the needs of networked individuals

2. Develop systematic strategies to support learners to navigate a much more complex learning landscape

3. Re-examine our educational goals in the context of economic uncertainties’ .

(Facer, 2009, p.7)

Why a Personal Learning

Environment?

‘We learn across space as we take ideas and learning resources gained in one location and apply or develop them in another. We learn across time . . . through ideas and strategies gained in earlier years providing a framework for a lifetime of learning. . . managing a range of personal learning projects, rather than following a single curriculum’. (Sharples et al, 2005, p. 2)

Why a Personal Learning Environment?

‘1.To liberate access to resources …

2. To liberate the sharing of skills… 3. To liberate the critical and

creative resources of people...4. To liberate the individual… by

providing him with the opportunity to draw on the experience of his peers and to entrust himself to the teacher, guide, adviser or healer of his choice’

Illich, 1971, p.103

Challenges :Groups – Networks – Collectives - Presence

Challenges -Learner autonomy

Learner Control

Conative

Algorithmic

Semiotic

Types of social interaction

Confidence Initiative Motivation

Learningactivity Sequencing Pacing

Resource selection

Text-hypertext MultimediaSearch

approaches

Economic

Perceived value of knowledge

Cost-benefitratio

Opportunity costalternatives

Value assessmentand recognition

Life contextSocial

environment

MonitoringEvaluation

Bouchard, 2009, p.96

Challenge Critical Literacies

 

http://visuallit.wordpress.com/2008/06/03/media-literacy-visual-literacy-connect/

Learning while using a Personal Learning Environment

Designing a Personal Learning Environment

• Design usability issues:• Simplicity – learnability

-memorability• Accessibility• Relevance

Design dimensions to experience:

Personal learning:• Learner choice and control• Creation and expression• Aggregation • Link to (challenging) knowledge bank• People

‘Design is the processof evoking meaning’

Shedroff, 2009, p4.

Engaging learning experiences

PLE Components

Recommender

Scaffolds

Services Editor

Profiler

Aggregator

Researching a Personal Learning EnvironmentResearch to inform the

design and development of Plearn:

• Literature review• Super-users surveys• Close contact with

PLE researchers worldwide

Usability testing of Plearn:• Feedback on mock-ups of the PLE• Testing of the PLE prototype at different stages of development

Educational research:• Comparison of learning without and with Plearn in 3 case studies (with different users in different scenarios)

Massive Open Online Course - PLE

To take part in the critical literacies course and research:http://www.downes.ca/post/52307

Frederika.Kop@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Rita Kop