Characterisation of a Personal Learning Environment as a Lifelong Learning Tool

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiv

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2. From Formal to Informal Learning: Scenario, Conditioning Elements and Evolutionary Steps

   • Sabrina Leone

   Pages 1-37

3. The SSW4LL Format

   • Sabrina Leone

   Pages 39-62

4. Case Study: SSW4LL 2011

   • Sabrina Leone

   Pages 63-77

5. Concluding Remarks

   • Sabrina Leone

   Pages 79-80

6. Back Matter

   Pages 81-88

   PDF

​This work focuses on the characterization of adult lifelong learners’ Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) by implicit and explicit tools of personalization. It aims aims toward creating a system for the development of a learning path for the characterisation of PLE for adult life learners.  The synergy of formal and informal learning in the dynamic construction of a lifelong learner’s PLE is fully explored, with the recognition that the majority of learning, especially for life long learners, occurs outside traditional learning formats.

Specifically, this volume discusses the design, implementation, and validation of the SSW4LL (Social Semantic Web for Lifelong Learners) format, and the the SSW4LL system, built on Moodle 2.0 integrated with an adaptive mechanism (conditional activities) and some tools of Social Semantic Web (Semantic MediaWiki, Diigo and Google+). With thoroughly grounded cases studies, this volume makes the case that these systems are suitable to provide a dynamically personalized learning environment to the lifelong learner. All of these environments are fully discussed and cases made for each as a tool for constructing adult learners' PLEs.​

• Implicit personalization of learning
• Lifelong learning
• Needs analysis of lifelong learners
• Personalizing lifelong learning
• Social Semantic web for Life Long Learners
• Social web

From the reviews:

“Leone not only describes different (social) learning capabilities, but also includes suggestions regarding personal learning environments, case studies, and best practices. … The book presents the conclusions of this study, along with limitations and future development steps. It would be a useful tool for teachers and instructors, as the author supports the presentation with additional information, case studies, and best practice examples.” (M. Caramihai, Computing Reviews, December, 2013)

“Sabrina Leone’s offer in the series ‘SpringerBriefs in education’ provides the context for a focus on personal learning environments … as a likely next generation of online learning system. She contends that PLES have the capacity to support lifelong learners in more effective and engaging ways than most current learning environments. … If you are interested in the pursuit of technological innovations in support of online teaching, learning and pedagogy … it could be worth spending the hours digesting the detailed discussion.” (Robyn Smyth, British Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 44 (6), November, 2013)

• , Facoltà di Ingegneria, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy

  Sabrina Leone

Sabrina Leone, PhD in e-Learning at the Faculty of Engineering of the Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM), Ancona, Italy is a researcher and a teacher. Her current research focuses on Personal Learning Environments and lifelong learning, and she has a strong interest in adaptive learning environments and the Social Semantic Web.

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