Adopting a personal learning environment and network to strengthen students’ self-directed and life-long learning attributes

Abstract

This study explored the implementation of a learner-centered interactive platform termed “Personal Learning Environment and Network (PLE&N)” in fostering a connected, deep, and personalized learning environment for accommodating students' diverse and unique learning needs. Leveraging the network-based and technology-enhanced PLE&N model introduced by the course instructor, students actively engaged with peers, instructors, experts, and professionals in a collaborative learning environment. As the successful implementation of PLE&N extensively relied on the student’s contribution to the PLE&N platforms, they were rewarded with up to 10% of the total marks, which was counted toward the final grading in the subject. Through active and meaningful engagement in the PLE&N platform, students enhanced their learning horizons beyond the traditional classroom boundaries, accessing and exchanging vital and cutting-edge knowledge within their fields of interest, while effectively managing information overload by collaborative effort through PLE&N. The post-study questionnaire survey indicated that the majority of the students (80%) found useful content posted on PLE&N and highly agreed that PLE&N postings improved their understanding of the subject knowledge. Moreover, the integration of constructivist and connectivist pedagogies within PLE&N positively influenced the learning environment, enhancing students’ self-directed learning attributes, as corroborated by in-depth interviews and survey responses. Impressively, at least 65% of students expressed a strong interest in adopting PLE&N for other subjects, suggesting a strong motivation towards life-long learning. These results underscore the potential of learner-driven personalized learning environments, such as PLE&N, to strengthen students' self-directed and life-long learning attributes. Insights from this research might encourage further innovative approaches in designing learner-driven personalized learning environments to strengthen students’ self-directed and life-long learning attributes. Keywords: PLE&N, RSS Feed, Constructive Learning, Connective Learning, Learner-centric Pedagogy. Higher Education.