"A PLE may be described as the set of tools, data sources, connections, and activities that each person commonly uses in order to learn" (Adell & Castaneda, as cited in Kompen, Monguet, & Brigos, 2015, p. 120).
This definition closely fits with my own concept of what a personal learning environment (PLE) is. A PLE can be described as a collection: a collection of all of the resources, tools, networks, and services that a person uses to accomplish their formal and informal learning goals. There are many different definitions for personal learning environments. Some focus strictly on the use of Web 2.0 applications for learning (Kompen et al., 2015) while others are inclusive of the use of "digital and non-digital building blocks" for learning (Buchem & Koskinen, 2013).
This website looks at PLEs in a very broad sense. I consider everything that a person uses in their pursuit of learning to be part of their PLE.
Fifty years ago, our learning environments were mainly comprised of books, teachers, paper and pens, typewriters, our peers, and other community members. Today, we still use most of these, but add so many more. Here we will discuss tools and networks that facilitate collaboration, organization, reading, writing and other forms presenting, accessing instruction, and practice opportunities.
Buchem, I., & Koskinen, T. (2013). Editorial: Personal learning environments. eLearning Papers, 35. Retrieved fromhttps://www.openeducationeuropa.eu/sites/default/files/old/eLPapers_Issue35_EN.pdf Kompen, R. T., Monguet, J. M., & Brigos, M. (2015). Constant change: The ever-evolving personal learning environment. Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 16(2), 119-128.