Concept maps look very much like a tangled spider’s web that has particles caught up in its sticky threads. Well, that’s learning – the Coles notes version. Here is how it all unravels and makes sense to me.
My personal learning environment (PLE) is enhanced by modern technology, and a great way to visualize its complexity is with the use of graphic software like a cmap. Technology has many faces and Internet tools like Google and Yahoo are just 2 of them. As I visit various sites a trail is left, these mouse droppings lead to pointers, they are the specific sites I’ve visited. This leaves what is known as a digital footprint, and that never goes away. These pointers (sites) are usually knowledge based or performance based competencies and usually includes: creation, communication, and evaluation abilities these are part of my PLE.
This is just the beginning. Technology via Enterprise 2.0 offers digital literacy, and the artifacts include: slideshare, podcast, audacity, concept maps, PLE image, avatars, wikis and blog posts. These all offer ways of communicating and sharing education in different formats and they add to my PLE. Digital literacy also leaves footprints that will benefit performance and knowledge based competencies and those allow me to continually update my PLE. Digital Literacy also provides on line communication tools like: blogs, facebook, wikis, skype, I google, Second Life, twitter, podcasting, flicker, picasa, and videos. These are social networks and they lead to learning which is included in my PLE. I also share these via RSS feeds which are an information management tool and they leave a path to personal and public information which connects back to the digital footprints and becomes part of my PLE. These social network tools need to be carefully managed as to ensure personal privacy is maintained. The public information is usually attained via social networks, digital footprints and rss feeds, but the information is very general in nature. Other technological information management tools are: google reader, diigo, linked and Wikispace and they are linked to the work learning environment which helps me manage my PLE again. The management tools technological management tools help collect and library: tools, documents, communication, information etc. so that it can be managed in an easier fashion, hank goodness
To wrap it all up in a nice neat package, technology is comprised of numerous tools. Some are performance enhancers while others are knowledge enhancers. Technology also includes numerous communication tools which enhance both knowledge and performance, this all sums up to learning and that’s what makes up my PLE. In addition technology through the use of Enterprise 2.0 (no, not the space ship) offers numerous digital literacy tools which again add affordances that benefit my PLE.
There is not a clean cut path to learning, it really is a tangled intertwining sticky web that catches everything as it passes by. My Personal Learning network has expanded so much due to technology and it will continue to flourish. In addition I will share all my new skills with my colleagues at work (my community) and eventually my group and corporation will also see their affordances.
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