The Personal Learning Planner

Abstract This paper discusses the online Personal Learning Planner (PLP) project underway at the National Institute of Community Innovations (NICI), one of the partners in the Teacher Education Network (TEN), a 2000 PT3 Catalyst grantee. The Web-based PLP provides a standards-linked “portfolio space” for both works in progress and demonstration collections of completed work, combined with structures to support mentorship and advising centered around the improvement of work. In this paper, we describe the PLP's history and rationale, design, and some initial results of its use in pilot programs, discussing the implications of lessons learned through these pilot experiences that can inform the PLP's effective use in teacher education. Early lessons from the field show the cultural, pedagogical, and technological challenges and potentials of basing performance reviews on collaboratively generated, standards-linked, Web-based portfolio processes, and products.