Personal Learning Environment Box (PLEBOX): A New Approach to E-Learning Platforms TIAGO M. C. SIMO ˜ ES, 1 JOEL J. P. C. RODRIGUES, 1 ISABEL de la TORRE 2 1 Instituto de Telecomunicac ¸o˜es, University of Beira Interior, Rua Marqueˆs d’A ´ vila e Bolama, 6201-001 Covilha˜, Portugal 2 Department of Signal Theory and Communications, University of Valladolid, Campus Miguel Delibes, s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain Received 11 September 2010; accepted 6 February 2011 ABSTRACT: This article presents a new E-learning platform called Personal Learning Environment Box (PLEBOX). The system is built on Microsoft SharePoint and SharePoint Learning Kit (SLK) and enables the creation of modular and expansible software, presenting a simplified interaction with the user. PLEBOX has been used by 210 users (10 teachers and 200 engineering students) of the University of Beira Interior, Portugal and the University of Valladolid, Spain. The PLEBOX platform has innovative features compared to existing platforms, such as creating a customizable work environment, the ability to add applications, a framework for developing modules, and a new form to exposure learning contents, which can be used in engineering appli- cations and education. ß 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.20537 Keywords: E-learning platform; framework; Learning Management System (LMS); Personal Learning Environ- ment; simplified interaction INTRODUCTION E-Learning refers to the use of Information and Communi- cations Technologies (ICTs) to transform and support the learn- ing process ubiquitously [1]. E-Learning evolution has resulted from the emergence of the Information Society (IS) and it has greatly impacted on the global socio-cultural and economic development [1]. Some researchers in this field argue that the development of E-learning has not been tested, and it is still in its infancy [2]. There are different E-learning technologies in use that state how actual learning will take place depending on the environment in which they are implemented. They include Learning Management Systems (LMS), Content Management Systems (CMS), Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS), TV, CD-ROM, virtual worlds, and collaborative technologies. LMS are primarily developed to provide online learning services for students, teachers, tutors, and managers [3]. Examples of LMS include KEWL [4], open-source E-learning software over Windows System. Other LMS is Moodle that was developed to facilitate the collaborative creation of content, organization, control, and to manage the publication of docu- ments in a centralized environment [5–7]. LCMS are mostly Web-based systems. They combine the management and administrative functionalities of LMS and CMS to author, approve, publish, and manage learning content. An example of such technologies is the Macromedia Course Builder [8]. Virtual worlds have become very popular and promising in facilitating student learning. The E-learning evolution has been enabled by network technologies. Nowadays, virtual communities, game authoring tools, and personalized tools support students learning. Person- alizing information has long been the motivation behind devel- oping E-learning systems [9]. This article presents an innovative LMS named Personal Learning Environment Box (PLEBOX), which integrates the common features to existing systems. Among them are: person- alization of the learning environment, allocation and carry out Correspondence to J. J. P. C. Rodrigues (joeljr@ieee.org). ß 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 1