This document summarizes a presentation on personal learning environments (PLEs) and personal learning networks (PLNs). It addresses 8 questions about PLEs/PLNs and education. For each question, several contributors provide responses in the form of quotes, images, and brief explanations. The questions cover topics such as the need for educational technology, implications of PLEs/PLNs for traditional education, attributes of a healthy PLE/PLN, pedagogies inspired by PLEs, implications for professional learning, what it means for teachers, strategies for managing networks, and whether PLEs/PLNs represent a transitional model.
1. PLE2010 unKeynote Presentation
Alec Couros and Graham Attwell and friends
Photo: Thomas Hawk - http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/2442371176/
sizes/l/in/photostream/
2. QUESTION 1: With all of the available Web 2.0 tools, is there
a need for “educational technology”?
Photo Raymond Elferink
3.
4. Contributed by Mark McGuire
Photo by by thumeco
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waynethume/
154109994/
5. Question 2: What are the implications of PLEs/PLNs on
traditional modes/structures of education?
6. Contributed by Gemma Tur
PLEs may expand into traditional structures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xip/13979681/sizes/o/in/photostream/
7. When we seek
and we create
PLE
personal
learning spaces,
our classrooms
can no longer
be defined
by their
physical spaces. PLN
10. Contributed by Gemma Tur
A healthy PLE is dynamic, diverse and interactive.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/labguest/3510995344/sizes/l/in/photostream/
11. What are the key
attributes of a
healthy PLE/PLN?
D E P TH
Background to this diagram – blog post 1 & blog post 2
Both online & offline
Linked into multiple
networks
Draw from eclectic
sources
Involve 2-way
information flow
Have people at their
heart
Contributed by Ian Guest
B R E A D T H
18. QUESTION 4: What pedagogies are inspired by PLEs (e.g., networked learning,
connected learning)? Give examples of where PLEs/PLNs have transformed practice.
20. Question 5: What are the implications of PLEs/PLNs beyond
bringing educational technology into the classroom, and
specifically toward workplace/professional learning?
21. Contributed by Gemma Tur
One implication of PLEs in education:
empowering students’ learning
/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ldm/14296081
22. Another implication of PLEs in education:
Working students’ digital attitude
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unav/4100393732/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Contributed by Gemma Tur
23. Question 6: If PLEs/PLNs are becoming the norm, what does it mean for
teachers/trainers (or the extension: what does it mean for training teachers &
trainers)?
24. If PLEs are becoming the norm,
it means networking our students from the very beginning.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mimiw/1878700854/sizes/z/in/photostream/
Contributed by Gemma Tur
25. Contributed by Mary Risner
Photo danceinthesky http://www.flickr.com/photos/
26533176@N00/403990660/
26. The networked student may become the networked professional.
THE WAY IS LONG... BUT IT CANNOT BE DONE ALONE.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/baggis/4173304621/
Contributed by Gemma Tur
27. Question 7: As our networks continue to grow, what strategies
should we have in managing our contacts, our connections, and
our attention? Or, extension, how scalable are PLEs/PLNs?
28. Question 8: Can we start thinking beyond PLEs/PLNs as models? Are
we simply at a transitional stage? What will be the next, new model for
learning in society? (e.g., where are we headed?)
29. Contributed by Meredith Stewart
How can you avoid
creating an echo
chamber PLE/PLN? CC-licensed photo by
lovestruck
‘Learning Spaces’ concept from here: http://pairadimes.davidtruss.com/blogs-as-learning-spaces/
Related to ‘Thinning Walls” By Alec: http://educationaltechnology.ca/couros/1335
Response to #2. What are the implications of PLEs/PLNs on traditional modes/structures of education? (Related to #6 too)
This is one of my favourite characteristics of a healthy community, and it certainly applies to PLNs. Members of a PLN need to empathize with another person enough to actually be willing to contribute something to them. Forgiveness comes in when someone unintentionally offends someone else in the network – something that is all too easy to have happen. A healthy PLN will be willing to forgive and move on.
Hospitality is more than being nice to each other – although it certainly implies that. It includes taking care of someone else—inviting them into a part of your life and looking after them while they’re there. PLNs look after each other.