Hello everyone! (I need to start using real titles instead of memes…)
Anyway, today we are going to talk about PLEs! Now apart from fitting perfectly into a classic bit of internet humour, PLEs are actually something rather new and wonderful; Personal Learning Environments. In short, they are open platforms where the user has the freedom to choose the tools that are relevant to their needs or interests. (Atwell, 2008 & Hakkinen & al. 2014)
So what exactly does it mean to personalise your learning? How do we do it? And is it a good idea or a bad one? Well, let’s begin with yours truly 😉
According to a recent study I took that was designed by North Carolina State University, I am an “Active” and “Intuitive” learner. What this essentially means is that it is easier for me to learn topics that are more theoretical and allow me to discover new possibilities, and the way that I learn best is by discussing, trying and explaining. So how would I personalise the way that I carry out my learning so that I can make the most of these personal traits? Well according to (Felder and Brent, 2016) active learners benefit from discussions and problem-solving, to which I can personally testify. Therefore, I believe that using apps such as Duolingo and HiNative, which allow you to take tests and engage in conversations with native speakers, are hugely beneficial to my learning style.
I would like my learning process to be as personalised as possible. I believe that the more personalised that my learning is, the more effective it will be and as a result of this, my positive progress will motivate me to continue learning.
I suppose the next logical question to ask is what are the advantages and disadvantages of such personalisation? Well the advantages are very clear, to personalise your learning means to ensure that your learning need are met and that you are working in an environment that is as productive as possible. However are there any disadvantages? Now, while I can’t think of many, the only one that really comes to mind is the possibility of closing yourself off to new techniques. If you over-personalise your learning and remain to rigid in that structure, you may miss out on new, alternative methods of learning that could help you to improve and perhaps expand your learning capabilities.
Of course, all this is theoretical and open to interpretation. Let me know your opinions in the comments and I have also put the link to the NCU learning traits test below, in case any of you want to find out what your learning style is!
http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html
Until next time,
Amee x
Amee's Language Babbles 