Personal Learning Environment: U R Study on the web

The access to and range of resources on the web provide a new degree of freedom to learner to organize their individual learning. An assorted set of resources- both online and desktop that a leaner uses to manage her learning – answer questions (gooogling), provide context, illustrate processes and organize her learning approach is called Personal learning environment. PLE is U r Study on the web.  The concept of PLE demands a fundamental change in the role resources (teachers, libraries) play in teaching and learning. In the network environment where information is ubiquitous, there is a greater need of skills that support fast and accurate access to relevant and reliable information resource. 

PLE: what does it mean for teachers?

PLE changes teachers role in fundamental manner. In the networked world, where students have access to learning resources, teaching is less a matter of data transmission ( image) and more of a collaborative exercise in exploration, collection, orchestration, reusing, remixing and integration of information and insight into knowledge production.

PLE : what does it mean for a student?

PLE provides freedom to learners or students. With new found freedom comes a new responsibility. In a PLE, the goal of the student shifts from a need to gather information to a need to draw connection from it- to acquire it, process it, share it and collaborate in using and harnessing it.

A PLE puts learning in driver’s seat. She is in charge of her own learning processes, challenging it to reflect  on tools and resources that help them learn best. By design and practice PLE is a creation by individual initiative and self-direction and for that reason the responsibility for organization and as a consequence for learning – rests with the learner.

The Role of PLE may herald a greater emphasis on the role that meta-cognition  plays in personal learning, enabling learner to actively probe – consider and reflect upon the specific tools and resources that lead to a deeper engagement with learning resources to facilitate their learning   

Personal Learning System- Illustrated

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Social Media & Workplace Learning via kwout

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Source: http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/academy/smwl/pdl-pln.htm

Towards Personal Learning

As we enter deeper into networked, knowledge-intense world, each one of us need to develop unique individual approach towards acquiring and harnessing knowledge towards our individual and institutional goals. This is driven by individual initiative and hence may be called “Personal Learning”

There is nothing surprising nor does novelty in this new need thrust upon us. Historically changing times have always demanded new approaches towards maintaining and sustaining one’s welfare: the state of faring well or doing well in all spheres concerned to her or him. Each sphere of life demands a new approach that is in tune with times and possibilities. For instance, as human society moved from predominantly agrarian mode to industrial state, it freed people from their family professions and localities and forced them to plan for everything they need in newer places, stations and positions in life. Needs for money was met through personal finances or personal investments, housing needs were realized through housing schemes or loans and so on. As education is becoming a general necessity we see banks offering “personal educational loans”.

But one more pressing need that is often ignored is acquiring new knowledge for newer position or progress. As we move from a formal educational mode that “taught you for life” to informal educational opportunities of “life long learning” there is new demand on individuals. This new need is concerned about gaining knowledge by self-initiated approaches. This is called “personal learning”. It is a process of   identifying sources and connections on the network that update him with new knowledge and information.