Call it a PLE if you like, to me it is connectivist learning. Other terms that i can identify with are Dave Cormier’s ‘Community as Curriculum‘ approach and Wendy Drexler’s elucidation of Networked learning in the ‘Networked student model‘ (video) .
I agree with Jenny Mackness blog post on Curation and Balance in that it is the process that is of most interest and relevance when trying to explain to staff and students the benefits of 21st century connectivist learning. I think however the terms PLE and PLN are with us to stay and so an appreciation of the differences between the terms is useful. From the various blog posts it would seem that the consensus is that a Personal Learning Environment (PLE) is more concerned with tools and technology and that Personal Learning Networks (PLN) are more concerned with connections to people. I agree with these distinctions and I like Vahid Masrour’s (PLE, i think i got it (for me, anyways) concise view of their respective functions.
http://learnadoodledastic.blogspot.com/2010/09/hold-front-page-ples-need-teachers.html
Learning Change 