[publication] Personal Learning Environment – Generation 2.0

Our third publication at this year ED-Media Confernece in Denver, USA is now online available. We described the newest research outcomes of our Personal Learning Environment. The slides of the talk are already published here.
Abstract:

Teaching and learning efforts at universities has been dominated by Learning Management Systems since years now. At the same time the so-called Web 2.0 technologies arise and assist teachers as well as learners through communication or collaborating with each other. Furthermore new web technologies like mashups or new devices like smartphones allow us to work with the World Web Web from anywhere at anytime. In this publication a so-called Personal Learning Environment (PLE) is introduced which was launched at Graz University of Technology for the first time in 2010. After a prototype phase a complete redesign was carried out to improve usability and in that way better fit user ́s needs. With the help of metaphor-like terms such as “spaces” and apps the interface became quite easy to work with and fulfilled the change towards learner-centered framework. This paper outlines the cornerstones of the PLE development and its redesign as well as first evaluation data in relation to the focus that the learning environment of tomorrow has to integrate Web services as well as university wide services in an easy and understandable way to become a real Personal Learning Environment.

Reference: Targhi, B., Ebner, M. & Kroell, C. (2012). Personal Learning Environment – Generation 2.0. In Proceedings of World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications 2012 (pp. 1828-1835). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.