is a new term I came across because of PXGT6110, in Mdm Ng's class.
I have my equal share of both hate and love in my first encounter with it.
Hate it, because I found it to be very confusing in the academic text. (Maybe I'm reading too much/too shallow into it?)
I'll still like to quote what Barnard (2005) said about PLE:
"It is said that a precise definition of personalised learning is not needed in order to make it work"
(KJ says: What the ....... !??!!),
was my first response towards Barnard's quote.
It wasn't making much sense until Mdm Ng prompted us and pointed that some of us might have unconsciously applied PLE in our T&L. After a simple discussion, we do reliased that, to a certain extend, we have applied certain element of PLE in our T&L. What we didn't know was we did not purposely and fully capitalised on it.
(read prologue: before the love)
Love it, because the concept/idea proposed is something I intuitively felt what and how learning should be.The concept is also something I toyed with years ago. So it was kinda, hey, the idea is REAL! It's out there!
PLE concept of learners learn at their own pace (& style too!) pointed out the subtle difference with other learning concept such as individualised learning. As a teacher, I knew that different students have different learning style and differ in their learning pace too. And as a teacher, I am supposed to tailor make my lessons to suit my students. In which I felt so burdened as I only had a vague idea of their learning preferences. Having said that, having a vague idea does not equate to able to cater to their learning styles and needs. But PLE crafted out a difference in terms of learning responsibility. It took out a great chunk of responsibility from the teacher to tailor make suitable learning style for individual students and tweaked the idea of why not allow each learner to create their own learning ground? The instructor's role would be to identify suitable learning ground, set the general parameters and allow the learner to 'build' their own learning ground. What I loved so much about this is it will create a greater sense of familiarity, ownership, belonging, comfort and ease to the learner. It just felt so right!
====================================================
Prologue: Before the love
I was so frustrated with the concept of PLE from the articles until Dee enlightened me!
In Dee's response to "What is PLE to you" posted by Mdm Ng,
Dee's understanding of PLE:
"it is the learner's autonomy to create his/her own learning ground."
Saved the (my) day! Couldn't thank her enough. ^_^
My Doubts and My Question
As pointed out by Reigeluth, our current education system is designed for sorting, not really for learning. I'm of the opinion that our current education system, particularly the assessment system, needs major restructuring if PLE were to play a bigger role.
Or is it that I'm not seeing the wonders of PLE? That it does not get restrained by the shackles of educational system and structure?
That was a very apt comment- 'restrained by the shackles of educational system and structure' - that's what i feel about our education system- shackles and chains abound. If only something or someone high up there in the hierarchy sees the benefit of PLe for students and makes it his project to see that it is implemented in schools.
ReplyDeleteLet's pray for that day to come soon!