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Citation: Lisa Dawley, (2009) "Social network knowledge construction: emerging virtual world pedagogy", On the Horizon, Vol. 17 Iss: 2, pp.109 - 121. Abstract: the purpose of this paper is to identify and explore the dynamics of an emerging form of teaching and learning - social network knowledge construction - associated with the use of social networks, particularly 3D virtual world environments such as Second Life. As social network technologies not only frame the way individuals interact and learn, but actually impact on a learner's thinking process and development of future consciousness, new pedagogies are needed to effectively integrate these communication mechanisms into the learning environment.

"The Personal Learning Environment concept is relatively new and is often used interchangeably with Personal Learning Network. The earliest reference is attributed to George Siemens in his 2004 paper, Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. Downes and Attwell have also popularised the concept with Downes describing the PLE as "a tool that allows for a learner (or anyone) to engage in a distributed environment consisting of a network of people, services and resources" (2006, p23). Semantically, a personal learning environment and a personal learning network differ, with a network referring to connections and the interaction between them, and an environment referring to a broader definition that includes more passive tools and settings. The network and its broader socially constructed environment are interdependent, constantly shaping each other and unable to be separated."

Interesting blog post that uses Dawley's social network engagement levels (identify network, lurk, contribute, create, lead) (Dawley, 2009) to annotate a PLE diagram.