Personal Learning Environment

Bloggers!

This week I had the opportunity to learn about why each and every one of us should create a Personal Learning Environment (PLE). A PLE is basically the group of different tools you use for both formal and informal learning. The Prezi slideshow Growing Your Own Personal Learning Environment, is a perfect indication of how important it is to form and develop your PLE, and also what to ask yourself in order to achieve your goals and enhance your learning environment.

Something to reflect on this week was my 5-10 year plan. If you read my introduction blog post you’ll notice that I mentioned not really having a 5-year plan post graduation. I can however stay that I would like to be someone who is on a successful and happy path that involves good health, travel, a good career, marriage, and a family. Travel is something that I know will be in my plan no matter what. A dream of mine is to travel by car across Canada. As for a career, if I am being totally honest I have no idea what career path I will take! I am still exploring my options and don’t want to rush into something unless I love it. I think my PLE will help me discover my 5-year plan and help me in adjusting my environment to achieve my plans.

While creating my personal learning environment diagram, I chose to use a recommended web tool Popplet to create my PLE diagram. I enjoyed working with this tool and thought it was very easy to use and made a very clear diagram. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to create his or her own PLE diagram!

Polecrone, B. (CC) 2016.

For my current PLE I chose to create my own categories. My PLE involves the categories of Education, Communication, Organizing/Scheduling, and Browsers. Branching off from Education there is Collaboration, and branching off from Communication there is Social Networks. When reading the PDF The Networked Student, I liked the suggestion of there being importance not only in the tools you use but the importance of the connection between the tools you use. Each category I chose to include connects to either my formal or informal learning to create my own PLE.

As you can see from the diagram above, browsers that I use on a daily basis are Google Chrome, and Safari. When it comes to organizing myself and scheduling, I love to use the app on my iPhone or MacBook iCal or Notes to write down to do lists. To communicate I use text, call, Face Time, email, or social networks. Tools I rely on for my university education involve the use of Microsoft Office, Sakai, and collaboration with group members through the use of Google Docs. All of these tools create my personal learning environment.

Polecrone, B. (CC) 2016.

This week I also had the opportunity to work with and explore Word Cloud tools. I chose to use to tool Wordle because I was familiar with using it.  The Wordle I created summarized my first blog by taking out key words I used throughout. I’m sure you’re able to tell from just looking at the Wordle what my first blog post was about! Something I noticed as I took a moment to adjust the layout was that it took the form of a footprint, which directly to my blog post.