Title: PLE for improving high school students' approach to learning (mathematics)

Authors: Luigi Romano

Addresses: Faculty of Computer Science, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy

Abstract: Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) are gaining increasing interest because they provide a flexible way to better match students' needs. The main danger in using widely a PLE is the danger of the owner being unable to discriminate sound contents from groundless or wrong ones. The paper describes an experience where students were taught how to build a PLE in order to strengthen their understanding of mathematics. The paper focuses on two aspects: fostering and strengthening the creation of critical analysis skills in teenaged students when building their PLE and overcoming personal difficulties and misunderstandings about mathematics with a PLE. Gaining both skills will be extremely useful for improving students' personal and working life, in a lifelong learning perspective.

Keywords: PLE; personal learning environment; critical analysis; lifelong learning; OECD-PISA; mathematics education; high schools; secondary education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTEL.2013.059492

International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 2013 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.213 - 222

Received: 23 Aug 2013
Accepted: 05 Dec 2013
Published online: 23 Sep 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article