The document discusses personal learning environments (PLEs). It defines PLEs as systems that help learners take control of and manage their own learning by setting goals, managing content and processes, and communicating with others. A PLE consists of a variety of tools and techniques for gathering information, exploring relationships between pieces of information, and is browser-based. It is a concept based on social networks rather than a specific software application. The document contrasts PLEs with the traditional classroom model and emphasizes that PLEs allow learners to direct their own learning from a variety of sources instead of depending on a single institution or system.