1.1: Create a Personal Learning Environment
Learning in a Digital Age is about learning on the Internet, rather than via a single application, such as a learning management system (LMS).
- Upon successful completion of this subunit, you will be able to:
  
  explain the difference between an open, component-based learning environment and a traditional learning management system (LMS) or virtual learning environment (VLE);
  
  create a personal learning environment (PLE);
  
  create a course blog;
  
  complete your first daily photograph challenge (a recurrent theme throughout the course);
  
  declare yourself to the LiDA learning community; and
  
  apply strategies for achieving success in an open online course.
- Video Signpost Page
  
  Many educational institutions use a single platform for delivering online courses known as a learning management system (LMS) or virtual learning environment (VLE). However, OERu does not use an LMS or VLE for its courses. Read the short article and watch the video that follows to learn more about PLEs and VLEs.
- Embedding Digital Literacies Page
  
  Read this short article.
- Personal Learning Environments Page
  
  This OERu course is a micro Open Online Course (mOOC) where you create your own personal learning environment (PLE). Learners create their own PLE incorporating several web-based tools, such as microblogs and blogs. You will use your PLE to document your learning and connect with other learners.
  
  This course also uses several features associated with connectivist massive open online courses (cMOOCs). Spend some time to become familiar with the course environment and learning approach. This orientation offers a brief overview of PLEs and suggested learning approaches for open online courses.
- LiDA Photo Challenge Page
  
  Learning is a social activity. In LiDA we encourage you to share learning experiences to improve your skills and build confidence using social media. The photo challenge is a way to connect with your peers through creative expression of the concepts you encounter on this course.
- Create a Course Blog Page
  
  You are required to create a blog if you wish to be assessed to obtain formal credit for completing this course. However, we encourage everyone who is enrolled in LiDA 101 to create a course blog: it will help you improve your skills and network with your peers.
  
  You can use any blog platform that is able to tag or label your posts. We recommend you register your blog with OERu which supports WordPress and Blogger. They may not be able to harvest posts for the course feed using blogging platforms that do not support categories, tags, or labels. If you would like to use an existing blog, OERu will harvest posts that are tagged or labelled using the course code: lida101. However, you may wish to create a new dedicated course blog.
  
  The first learning challenge for this course will take you through the steps to set up your blog.
- Declare Yourself Challenge Page
  
  Mini Challenge Summary
  
  Summary: Create a new blog on WordPress or Blogger and publish your first post introducing yourself to course participants. Time 45 mins – two hours.
  
  During this challenge you learn how to create a course blog by introducing yourself and sharing your first daily photograph.

1.1: Create a Personal Learning Environment

Mini Challenge Summary