Conceptual design and empirical study of a personal learning environment and network (PLE&N) to support peer-based social and lifelong learning
VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems
ISSN: 2059-5891
Article publication date: 8 May 2017
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe a conceptual design of Personal Learning Environment & Network (PLE&N) and a learning model developed in support of peer-based social and lifelong learning in higher education, which collaborate with classroom learning.
Design/methodology/approach
The model consists of students, instructors and external parties interacting synergistically in learning in PLE&N-enabled courses based on the collaborative designs of instructor-led pedagogical approach and external parties-assisted lifelong learning “first-mover” development. The research constructs, tests and assesses this model in courses of 12 subjects in nearly two years.
Findings
The practicality of the designs is evidenced in post-course surveys and reflected by students’ ability in productively using collaborative resources over the internet to create an ever-expanding personal learning space stretching from home to campus and beyond, oriented toward individuality, universality, ubiquity, interactivity and connectivity.
Originality/value
The research contributes to PLE&N, social and lifelong learning seamless integration in theory and practice to dramatically enhance students’ virtual learning skills.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by an internal teaching and learning grant at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The authors would like to acknowledge this financial support.
An introductory view of the early stage of this research, student interviews to gather their initial requirements and some preliminary partial observations were published in a preceding conference article authored by Tsui and Sabetzadeh (2014).
Citation
Tsang, H.W.C. and Tsui, E. (2017), "Conceptual design and empirical study of a personal learning environment and network (PLE&N) to support peer-based social and lifelong learning", VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, Vol. 47 No. 2, pp. 228-249. https://doi.org/10.1108/VJIKMS-03-2017-0010
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited