Personal Learning EnvironmentsShifting the Locus of Control
Oleg LiberOleg Liber
CETIS, University of BoltonCETIS, University of Bolton
Dec 05Dec 05 22 of 20 of 20
Changing…
TechnologiesTechnologiesStudentsStudentsPedagogiesPedagogiesEnvironmentEnvironmentInstitutionsInstitutionsState education systemState education systemGlobal educationGlobal education
Dec 05Dec 05 33 of 20 of 20
Before VLEs
TechnologyTechnology– Web, ftp, gopher, email, newsgroupsWeb, ftp, gopher, email, newsgroups– Little interoperationLittle interoperation– No learner managementNo learner management– Enthusiast drivenEnthusiast driven
StudentsStudents– Mainly young, homogenousMainly young, homogenous– Mainly on campusMainly on campus
PedagogyPedagogy– Formal, face to face deliveryFormal, face to face delivery
Dec 05Dec 05 44 of 20 of 20
Age of the VLE
TechnologyTechnology– Content deliveryContent delivery– Discussion groupsDiscussion groups– MCQMCQ– Limited learning managementLimited learning management– Invented by enthusiastsInvented by enthusiasts
StudentsStudents– More part-timeMore part-time– AccessAccess– Widening participationWidening participation
PedagogyPedagogy– More distance learningMore distance learning– Greater support requirementsGreater support requirements
Dec 05Dec 05 55 of 20 of 20
VLE approaches
Technical approachesTechnical approaches– Website plus database (BB, WebCT …)Website plus database (BB, WebCT …)– Rich client (Colloquia)Rich client (Colloquia)
Organisational issuesOrganisational issues– University as ISPUniversity as ISP– ““Big System” management modelBig System” management model– Constrain diversityConstrain diversity
Dec 05Dec 05 66 of 20 of 20
Why VLEs have succeeded
Not disruptive innovationNot disruptive innovation
Easily adopted to support existing Easily adopted to support existing classroom/course paradigmclassroom/course paradigm
Widely incorporatedWidely incorporated
Which benefits proven?Which benefits proven?– PedagogicPedagogic– CostCost– AccessAccess
Dec 05Dec 05 77 of 20 of 20
Post VLE
New developments since 1996New developments since 1996– Mobile phones, SMS, camera phoneMobile phones, SMS, camera phone
– Digital photography, FlickrDigital photography, Flickr
– Blogs, RSSBlogs, RSS
– MP3 players, media players, PDAsMP3 players, media players, PDAs
– iTunes, podcastingiTunes, podcasting
– Pen drives, smart drives, SD cards…Pen drives, smart drives, SD cards…
– Instant messagingInstant messaging
– Internet gamingInternet gaming
– Bandwidth!Bandwidth!
Dec 05Dec 05 88 of 20 of 20
Institutional concerns
Traditionally institutions provide technologyTraditionally institutions provide technology– Classrooms, labs, library etc.Classrooms, labs, library etc.
Since 1990s institutions are ISPsSince 1990s institutions are ISPs– Email address, file store, homepages, recordsEmail address, file store, homepages, records– Assume students have no technologyAssume students have no technology– Also eportfolio hosting, VLE/LMS, content, servicesAlso eportfolio hosting, VLE/LMS, content, services
Now constraining technological use by studentsNow constraining technological use by students– IM, P2P, Blogs, MP3, mobile phones, PDAIM, P2P, Blogs, MP3, mobile phones, PDA
Staff and student skills trainingStaff and student skills training– Huge varietyHuge variety
But modern students need to use multiple systemsBut modern students need to use multiple systems
Dec 05Dec 05 99 of 20 of 20
TechnologyMoodle
Eportfolio systemCourse catalogue
ContentAuthentication and authorisation
TechnologyWebCT
Eportfolio systemCourse catalogue
ContentAuthentication and authorisation
TechnologyFronter
Eportfolio systemCourse catalogue
ContentAuthentication and authorisation
College A
KnowledgeTeaching
University B
KnowledgeTeaching
University C
KnowledgeTeaching
Dec 05Dec 05 1010 of 20 of 20
Issues for eLearning
Technological: Technological: – adaptable to changing technologiesadaptable to changing technologies– InteroperabilityInteroperability– SOASOA
InstitutionalInstitutional– Changing nature of service provisionChanging nature of service provision
PedagogicPedagogic– Ownership and creative use of technical system by Ownership and creative use of technical system by
teachers and studentsteachers and students– Shifting locus of controlShifting locus of control
Dec 05Dec 05 1111 of 20 of 20
TechnologyPLE
EportfolioContent
RelationshipManagement
Tools
College A
KnowledgeTeaching
Resources
University B
KnowledgeTeaching
Resources
University C
KnowledgeTeaching
Resources
Service
Service
Service ServiceService
Service
Dec 05Dec 05 1212 of 20 of 20
Post VLE – Personal Learning Environments
StudentsStudents– Mobile, learn anywhereMobile, learn anywhere– Technologically aware, capableTechnologically aware, capable– Multiple courses, formal/informalMultiple courses, formal/informal
TechnologyTechnology– PersonalPersonal– Interoperable, standards basedInteroperable, standards based– Extensible, service-orientedExtensible, service-oriented
InstitutionsInstitutions– Service basedService based– Technology requirementsTechnology requirements– Flexible coursesFlexible courses– Learner centredLearner centred
Dec 05Dec 05 1313 of 20 of 20
Before…
Course built at institutionCourse built at institution
Consumed by learnerConsumed by learner
Learners are managedLearners are managedVLEs provide no management tools for learnersVLEs provide no management tools for learners
Learners “fit” into courseLearners “fit” into courseCan only choose elective modulesCan only choose elective modules
Learners belong to institutionLearners belong to institutionOne institution at a time is typicalOne institution at a time is typical
Do customers shop only at one shop?Do customers shop only at one shop?
Dec 05Dec 05 1414 of 20 of 20
…After
Course aggregated by learnerCourse aggregated by learner– From several sourcesFrom several sources– Content, peers, support, teachingContent, peers, support, teaching
Elements provided by institutionElements provided by institution– Content, peers, support, teaching, certificationContent, peers, support, teaching, certification
Learners aggregate/manage elementsLearners aggregate/manage elements
Courses are customised to learnerCourses are customised to learner
Learners are free agentsLearners are free agents– “… “… shop at several shops…”shop at several shops…”
Dec 05Dec 05 1515 of 20 of 20
PLE implications
Student have own email address, PLE, e-portfolioStudent have own email address, PLE, e-portfolioCommercial ISP provides core servicesCommercial ISP provides core servicesAlso web-services (instrumentation), resourcesAlso web-services (instrumentation), resourcesState providesState provides
Services, resources, learning space, informationServices, resources, learning space, information
University providesUniversity providesStudent supportStudent supportSpecialised web servicesSpecialised web servicesContent, teachingContent, teaching
Dec 05Dec 05 1616 of 20 of 20
JISC funded Reference Model project
DfESDfES– “A collaborative approach to personalised learning activities”
(DfES e- Strategy summary p.3)– http://www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/e-strategy/docs/e-strategysummary.pdfhttp://www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/e-strategy/docs/e-strategysummary.pdf
Philosophy of eLearning and PLEsPhilosophy of eLearning and PLEsWhy technology? What “caused” VLEs? What “caused” eLearning?Why technology? What “caused” VLEs? What “caused” eLearning?
Use cases – scenarios for use of PLEUse cases – scenarios for use of PLEWhat will the future be like?What will the future be like?
Reference model – defining the scope of PLEsReference model – defining the scope of PLEsPrototypesPrototypes
Examples of possible PLEsExamples of possible PLEs
Dec 05Dec 05 1717 of 20 of 20
AOLInstantMessenger AOLInstantMessenger iChat iChat MSNMessenger MSNMessenger Colloquia Colloquia Groove Groove ELGG ELGG Outlook Outlook Chandler Chandler AppleMail AppleMail Eudora Eudora Thunderbird Thunderbird iCal iCal Sunbird Sunbird Shrook Shrook NetNewsWire NetNewsWire Blogger Blogger Drupal Drupal
Wordpress Wordpress XJournal XJournal Google Google Amazon Amazon 43Things 43Things Flickr Flickr Furl Furl Technorati Technorati del.icio.us del.icio.us http://www.writeboard.com/ http://www.writeboard.com/ SynchroEdit SynchroEdit Flock Flock WiredReach WiredReach NetVibes NetVibes eyeOS eyeOS Writely Writely SuprGlu SuprGlu BaseCamp BaseCamp
TaDaListTaDaList
Dec 05Dec 05 1818 of 20 of 20
Prototypes
Desktop application: Desktop application: – Resources: create, get, post and organiseResources: create, get, post and organise
Bookmarks, feeds, other sourcesBookmarks, feeds, other sources
– People: find, meet, collaborate, communicate, People: find, meet, collaborate, communicate, organiseorganise
– Activities: receive, design, create, participateActivities: receive, design, create, participate– Instrumentation: pluggable web-servicesInstrumentation: pluggable web-services
Portal application: Portal application: – Mimics desktop prototypeMimics desktop prototype
Dec 05Dec 05 1919 of 20 of 20
Importance of standards
Resources: RSS, Atom, Content packages, Resources: RSS, Atom, Content packages, SCORM….SCORM….
People: FOAF, LIP, ePortfolio…People: FOAF, LIP, ePortfolio…
Activities: Learning Design…Activities: Learning Design…
Instrumentation: XMPP, WSDL, SOAP… Instrumentation: XMPP, WSDL, SOAP…
Dec 05Dec 05 2020 of 20 of 20
Dec 05Dec 05 2121 of 20 of 20
Thanks for listening!
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