Week 2: Main Concepts from the readings

Definition of PLN: It is the set of learning communities where the learner organizes his learning process and people involved in those networks use latest technologies for learning. A distributed infrastructure is to be built for innovative conversations to take place.

PLE (Social and information environment designed for lifelong learning purposes): includes networks and connections between a person and resources.

PLE is a new and different approach to learning: learning is produced through discussion/communication and interaction; although motivation, self-direction, good time management and technical aptitude (digital literacy) is required from the learner’s side to create own PLN and efficiently participate in PLE.

Advantages of PLE:

• Learner-centered: learners have freedom to choose what, when and how to learn/learners make own decision and learn their own without prescriptive guidance
• Soft boundaries
• Integrates personal and professional interests (combines informal and formal learning)
• Persistence: reflective postings appear as digital records of the learning process and do not disappear after the course is ended
• Identity: Learners are free to contextualize their own understanding, which can go beyond formal schooling/curriculum
• Ease of use: knowledge can be flown into various applications and new applications can be easily integrated into existing PLE
• Ownership: not restricted to a specific institution, therefore individuals are free to chose which elements are most important for them and their learning
• Possibility for independent inquiry, learner’s autonomy and increased self-regulation
• The ability to locate expertise beyond the classroom walls
• Not limited to resources
• PLE has the greater adaptability to differing learning approaches and environments

How to handle loads of information/navigate an increasingly complex content base? Apply curation tool to filter and assemble information relevant and useful to us and our knowldge

LMS (closed network): Is a system to manage content and learners’ interactions

Advantages of LMS:

• Purposefully designed which fits well with formal teaching and learning
• Is safe and secure: learners expect to have their comments, images, reflections shared within the protected environment
• Ease of use: tools available for easy search, sorting, archiving, editing, retrieving of course content
• Less time is required from teachers/learners’ side for investment
• Discussions are more centralized (owned by the teacher)

Drawback of LMS:

• Teacher-centered, subject-centered, institutional-centered, content limited to curriculum
• Students’ choice is restricted by institutions/teachers’ choices