A Personal Learning Environment (PLE) is a system that is
made up of a variety of sources that an individual uses to help them manage
their learning while having control over it. Every person, including myself, has
their own personal toolbox that is filled with resources that help them when
learning and interacting with others; this can include a variety of digital
tools as well. There are many websites that I use on a daily basis but I simply
thought of them as social media websites. While creating my PLE and thinking a
little deeper, I realized that social media websites are helping me learn as
they not only allow me to connect with family and friends; they also allow me to
learn about things happening around the world. Though some people may find the use of technology a major distraction, I have found it to be a great source for learning and
enhancing my knowledge of many topics. The video “The Networked Student”,
discussed how a student used digital tools to allow him to gain a better understanding
of certain topics. He was also taught that building a network would strengthen
his learning process. I found what he was doing was somewhat similar to what my
peers and I do for this course. Everyone in this course is able take control of
their learning while making connections with their peers. Blogging is a great tool
that can be used for making connections as we are able to read people’s
opinions and are able to express are thoughts in the process.
Sarwar, F. (CC) 2015.
In 5
to 10 years’ time, I would have graduated from Brock University with a
Bachelors of Business Administration degree and would have completed my Human Resource
Professional exams. I hope to be working towards advancing my career by taking
advantage of a variety of professional opportunities. In terms of staying
connected with my network, I see myself maintaining and creating new
relationships with current and prospective professionals. I hope to be in a
position where I am able to work towards bettering the reputation of Human
Resources by being a professional who is accountable and loyal. Overall I hope
I am able to meet and/or exceed the expectations people have while meeting my
personal goals.
Photo copied from: http://simulblog.com/2014/10/01/my-bright-future/
After
creating my personal PLE, I gained a realization that I use many digital tools which
not only allow me to connect with others, but also help me manage and organize
myself while learning. Social media has proven to have many benefits as it is a
great tool for connecting with others. All of the systems I use allow me to share
my ideas, perspectives, and opinions while I try to understand concepts that
are presented in a simplified manner. Clint Lalonde’s blog post states the
importance and effectiveness of Personal Learning Network as it creates a close
network of people that can help individuals guide their learning and share
opportunities and ideas while advancing ones learning (Lalonde, 2012). I was
able to discover more about myself as a learner while creating my PLE and Word
Cloud. Since I am able to better understand new material when communicating with people in person versus
reading a textbook, having a strong PLN will prove to enhance my learning while
I become an effective learner.
Sarwar, F. (CC) 2015.
My
takeaway from the word cloud exercise is that it is a great way to summarize
an abundant amount of text by simply visualizing it. Although I have seen
advertisers use word clouds for making connections, I did not realize that I
could use it to creatively compile the information I need to understand as a learner. The use of the word cloud was a relevant and ideal activity that
also allowed me to reflect on the significance of having a positive digital
footprint and how I must follow technology rules when using all of the tech-based
resources and tools that are within my PLE. As I was creating the Wordle, I
kept examining the thought of how people made them and was surprised to learn how
effective my word cloud was at summarizing the main points and themes from my first blog post. This exercise
allowed me to learn about a new system for organizing the tools and resources I
have access to and that can effectively be used in a digital context.
- Fajar Sarwar
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