A personal inquiry into an experience of adult learning on-line

In this paper, I offer a reflection on mypersonal experience of networked learning usingthe approach of personal inquiry. I addressthe issue of identity and my experience ofpresenting myself on-line; my experience ofparticipating in the formation of the learninggroup; and what I describe as the `weight ofthe words', my experience of using this newmedium of communication. I follow this with atheoretical exploration which attempts tounderstand these aspects of my experience. Iargue that in the networked learningenvironment, the taken-for-granted processes ofidentity work and group formation aredisturbed. The unease provoked by this requiresgreater effort towards the establishment ofidentity and group, whilst at the same timeopening up the possibility for more fluidityand openness to the other. In my experienceas a learner, the newness and uncertainty ofthe experience compelled me towards seekingcertainty and closure. I was not able to makebest use of the opportunity for the greaterfluidity and openness offered by the networkedlearning environment. I close the paper bysuggesting how teachers may be able to supportthe conditions that would enable learners tomake best use of this opportunity. I argue thatthe learning community has to be seen asfundamentally an ethical one based onresponsibility to the other and that thisrequires the opening up of conversationsbetween learners and teachers for the sharingand negotiation of experiences and ways ofworking.