DESIGNING A RHIZOMATIC ONLINE PERSONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT MODEL to IMPROVE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC LISTENING SKILLS

Abstract

The paper proposes principles and a theoretical framework for the construction of an online personal learning environment model named the PLERN model, aiming to assist university students to improve their academic listening comprehension skills, and to apply the suggested model to investigate the targeted students’ perception of online learning. The paper describes the importance of listening comprehension at tertiary level, and the principles employed to construct the PLERN model. It presents the theoretical and intellectual framework used to construct the model, and a suggested research methodology to effectively implement this online learning model in the digital age. The paper also includes research design, research settings, and participants, instruments to implement the PLERN model, and the data collection methods of data analysis procedures which bring out research findings as well as the recommendations of the future study. The paper ends by indicating the weaknesses and strengths of the model which help researchers maximize the model strengths and minimize its weaknesses.