SOAR EXPLORES.

PERSONAL LEARNING PLANS

A small suburban high school implemented personal learning plans through an advocacy program with the belief that, as a result, students would become empowered about planning for their lives after high school and raise their aspirations regarding post-secondary education. The school believes it is vital to a student's long-term well being that he or she begin to view preparation for a global, knowledge-based workplace as a K-14 or K-16 educational experience. Student aspirations are defined as a desire to attain or accomplish a significant goal related to life after high school typically related to post-secondary education and later employment. Personal learning plans may ask students to consider what they envision themselves doing seven years after high school. Students then establish goals and create an action plan to achieve that vision. Specific coursework, internships, extra-curricular activities, volunteer service, and part-time employment may be components of each student's plan. This mixed-methodology research study used three methods of data collection to analyze the effectiveness of this initiative. These included observation of student advocacy groups, an aspirations survey, and review of student developed personal learning plans. Triangulation of these three data sources enabled the researcher to investigate the relationship between student aspirations and planning for life after high school as well as the extent of change in aspirations as a result of that planning. The data from all three sources support a correlation between the implementation of personal learning plans in advocacy group and positive changes in student aspirations. All data sources show an increase in student aspirations as a result of planning for life after college. The act of creating a more personalized high school and requiring students to envision their future pushed students to take control of their lives. These findings support the literature on effective schools related to the effectiveness of goal-setting and empowering students to take responsibility for their lives. Shannon L Welsh, "Goal-oriented personal learning plans and their effect on student aspirations regarding post-secondary education" (January 1, 2005). Boston College Dissertations and Theses. Paper AAI3173684. http://escholarship.bc.edu/dissertations/AAI3173684 A Personal Learning Plan and Plan of Study can be obtained from Daniel Koziol, Guidance Counserlor, Twin River Public Schools, POB 640, Genoa, NE, 68640-0640. Twin River Public Schools have created a very comprehensive document for their students. The PLP is consists of Career Fields, Post-Secondary Plans, Graduation Requirements, and Course Offerings. TRHS has divided their courses to match the Nebraska Career Connections Career Clusters. Their Plan of Study is a document that allows students to keep track of their classes during their four years of high school. www.nebraskacareerconnections.org

For more information, see: The Bamboo Project: http://michelemartin.typepad.com/thebambooprojectblog Fitzroy High School: http://fitzroyhs.vic.edu.au/plp.html Preparing a PLP: http://www.halmacomber.com/Preparing_Learning_Plan4.html Mt. Desert Island HS: http://manila.mdihs.u98.k12.me.us/mdihslyons/stories/storyreader$51 PLP and Portfolios: http://sbhschools.net/transitionprograms/freshmen/personallearningplans.html Kentucky Department of Education: http://www.education.ky.gov/KDE/Instructional+Resources/Career+And+Technical+Education/Individual+ Learning+Plan/ Millard Public Schools - Naviance Transition 2009
Millard Public Schools have integrated Personal Learning Plans for a number of years. During the 2009-2010 school year they have began the transition to Naviance. This program is used for post-secondary planning purposes for all students. Additional research was completed to determine the feasibility of using Naviance to support the PLP. A committee consisting of teachers and administrators reviewed the PLP format and a demonstration of the potential PLP in the Naviance software. Student focus groups conducted comparisons of the current Millard PLP and the potential PLP in Naviance. As a result of this work, the PLP was modified to use Naviance as the tool to support and implement PLP activities beginning with the 2009-2010 school year. This will streamline the PLP process by using a tool that synchronizes with Infinite Campus, provides electronic inventories, and automatically records the results in the student file. In addition, the system links career interest results to college and career placement information. For more information please contact Kim Saum-Mills, Director of Staff Development at Millard Public Schools or go to www.naviance.com.

\\Zeus\soar\SOAR Explores Summary Sheets One Pagers