In this post, I want to share my Personal Learning Environment (PLE) and discuss areas I’d like to focus on in the future. I’ve combined two infographics to create a clear snapshot of my current tools and areas for improvement.
In terms of search tools, I’ve been using fundamental platforms like Wikipedia and Google since high school because it was mandatory to learn how to. Moving into university, the library and ScienceDirect became crucial for finding research papers even though I kept using the two others for a more broader application. Google Scholar is more for learning than direct research, at least for me, and ZoteroBib from Bordeaux has been a time-saving gem, compiling all my sources into a proper bibliography.
For learning, I’m a heavy consumer of documentaries on platforms like Canal+ and YouTube. Podcasts and TED Talks on Spotify and TEDx are my go-to during travels. Reading papers or books is a habit, and The New York Times (or any kind of papers) is where I usually read news about the world or new studies that came out. Moodle is essential for academic learning in all of the Universities I went in the past years.
In terms of creation and editing, PowerPoint and Microsoft Word used to be my go-tos, but Canva has revolutionized how I approach papers and presentations. Its user-friendliness and collaborative features make it a key tool for group work.
An interesting application that many might not be familiar with is Remarkable, fitting into both creation/editing and organizing/storage. It’s the app for my paper tablet, where I manage course materials, edit papers, create to-do lists, and schedule. But Google Drive and my iPhone calendar are staples for storage and scheduling specially the calendar that I use all the time.
On the social media front, I use the mainstream platforms mostly for personal life, with LinkedIn gaining more importance in my professional network, especially during my time in Lisbon.
As for future improvements, I’ve heard about SciHub during a class in Bordeaux and want to explore it further. MIT OpenCourseWare is another discovery a platform with a with range of course support that seems academically challenging but intriguing. Remarkable’s regular updates offer a lot of potential in new of using it or at least improvement in the way I’ve been using it. Canva, being a recent addition, feels like I’ve only scratched the surface of its capabilities, and I believe it’ll be a significant asset in my professional future.
That wraps up my PLE analysis. I hope I didn’t bore you, and perhaps you’ve discovered some new websites/apps to explore!
