About

**About this Wiki.....**

** This Wiki is part of a PhD research aims to design and deploy an innovative learning **  ** system in the Amadeus Lyceum secondary school in the Netherlands. They search **  ** for a new approach to learning that can foster the 21st century skills, stimulate **   ** self-directed learning, and help them achieve their core values. This research **  ** suggests a PLE-based model to help them reach their learning goals. **

**About the Amadeus Lyceum.....**

Amadeus Lyceum is an innovative secondary school in the Netherlands. The culture and art are the main subjects that are taught in this school. Amadeus has chosen four core values that constitute the basis of its educational system. These core values include: The students in this school don't use any book. Each student has a personal laptop and uses it to connect to the Internet during school time. Google tools, Wikipedia, and a local CMS are used as the sources of information. There is no fixed-time class. Each student can manage their study time, independently. Students from different years can attend same group. Shifting from one size-fits all approach towards individualized curriculum is one of the educational goals of this school. The curriculum has two parts: a core part and a flexible part. The former is created by the school, while the latter can be created by the students, based on their needs and learning goals.
 * Personal development
 * Self-expression
 * Creativity
 * Dialogue and respect


 * The PLE concept..... **

PLE is not a single application. It is an environment that contains people, tools, media, knowledge, and interactions between them. PLE can stimulate and foster the following approaches to learning:
 * Self-directed learning
 * Networked learning
 * Lifelong learning
 * Learner-centric education
 * Open thinking
 * <span style="color: #5e532b; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; vertical-align: sub;">Knowledge-pulling demand

<span style="color: #5e532b; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; vertical-align: sub;">PLE can extend the learning environment beyond the school walls. It gives the learner control of learning. The main idea behind PLE assumes that authentic learning occurs when the learner acts as a knowledge creator, not only a consumer. The web2.0 tools are the cornerstones of PLE. They provide many opportunities to facilitate active participation of learners in creating, remixing, and sharing of knowledge.


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">Suggested model..... **

<span style="color: #5e532b; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Based on the learning goals and requirements of the Amadeus School and its educational design; after conducting several interviews with the school managers, teachers, and students, we suggested the following PLE-based model. In this model, each student and teacher creates their own PLE. Each PLE might contain the following parts:


 * <span style="color: #5e532b; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">PLE start page
 * <span style="color: #5e532b; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Peers (teachers, friends, out of school experts, family)
 * <span style="color: #5e532b; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Media (Blogs, Wikis, Social networks)
 * <span style="color: #5e532b; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Tools (Widgets, Gadgets, Bookmarks, authoring)

<span style="color: #5e532b; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">All of the PLEs will be connected to each other to create a learning network. There is a central part in the model which acts as a collaborative knowledge management to create a flexible curriculum. It will also be used as control panel and history of the subject. A student has access to knowledgeable peers outside of school and can extend their learning environment.

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