International Journal of Education and Development using ICT

International Journal of Education and Development using ICT > Vol. 13, No. 2 (2017)

Personal learning environments: a study among Higher Education student’s designs

Antonio R Bartolomé, University of Barcelona, Catalonia in Spain
Manuel Cebrian-de-la-Serna, Universidad de Malaga, Andalusia, Spain

Abstract
Even if we can find several PLE models and proposals based on the use of Web 2.0 resources, the problem of what resources to choose and how to organize them has not yet reached a specific or clear solution. During a semester, 18 students of Social Education at the University of Barcelona learnt how to use Web 2.0 resources in Social Education, and were then invited to prepare and use their own Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) with two platforms: Symbaloo and Protopage. An analysis of both platforms, demonstrates their preferences in software, functionality, web tools, individual application and those aspects of the software that they choose to include in their spaces. Results show that the subjects prefer flexible and simple platforms that let them integrate their own resources from Web 2.0. We have found some notable contradictions between the theoretical models and the practical applications that seemed more coherent and logical. Students broadened the use of these PLEs to other subjects and non-formal learning situations. Future studies ought to consider the importance of the freedom to choose resources and the use of Web 2.0 services for practical and useful PLEs.

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