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What Is Instruction Is Through Personal Learning Environments ( Ples )

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CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

Introduction

The goal of any educator is to meet students where they are and help them grow academically. Since students do not all learn in the same manner, differentiated instruction is needed to meet the diverse needs of students today. One way to differentiate instruction is through personal learning environments (PLEs). PLEs are platforms that help learners manage and take control of their learning; they are a combination of tools, communities, and services that help learners direct their own learning and reach educational goals. PLEs help students develop autonomy and it prepares them for lifelong learning. Implementing PLEs in a public school could help to close gaps between low performing students …show more content…

PLEs employ different tools that help manage learning. For example, portfolios or e-portfolios allows learners to house completed work and share that work with teachers as needed. Collaboration tools allow learners to connect with one another on social networking sites in order to work together to complete projects and other assignments. Managing and planning tools allow learners to create to-do lists set goals. Journals, such as blogs, help learners record and reflect on their work. Last, a content repository affords students the opportunity to keep videos, websites, and/or shared files. These different tools are not independent of each other; they may be intertwined and interchangeable. Learners use PLEs that are most beneficial to them and at times that are most conducive for their schedule. In order for PLEs to be effective, educators must help learners develop the skills to be an autonomous learner.
• “Learning management systems traditionally provide structures to guide online learners to achieve their learning goals” (Tu, Sujo-Montes, Yen, Chan, & Blocher, 2012, p. 13). Technologies, such as Web 2.0, allow learners to create, share, and organize PLEs in open network environments. In addition, this platform allows students to collaborate and engage in social networking. According to Tu et al., educators integrate Web 2.0 technologies to support online learning management system (LMS)

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