The Name "MyPlan" refers to a student individual learning plan which is used by students to develop an understanding of and an aplication of planning and strategic life management principles to their own lives and to their school program. Its development was inspired by the "ILP" of the South Australian Department of Education and Children's Services" (DECS).

The Term “ILP” stands for “IndividuaL Learning Plan” and has been used by DECS to refer to the formal document developed as a tool for students to present a self evaluation and plan. The term “portfolio” has also been used in the DECS document “Transition Portfolio” and in numerous other manifestations of  “e-portfolios”.  A possibility is to use the term “portfolio” – for  example “Individual Learning Portfolio”.  This was not favoured because while it adequately covers the concept of looking back and presenting evidence of achievements and it does not evoke the forward looking concept of a tool which can be used by the student to plan a future course of study or other action.  Retention of the term “Plan” in the title was therefore preferred.

Further confusion arose with the development of “Personal Learning Plan” (PLP) as a subject for the “New SACE”. The PLP is a subject to be taught rather than an actual plan.  This project, while being an effective tool for teaching the PLP, sought to produce an actual plan that students can use throughout all of secondary school and beyond.

Students will be familiar with the name “MySpace” which refers to a web-based document which is still evolving.  The term “MyPlan” suggests a similar free-ranging and highly personal artefact while being a tool which has a real use in both making decisions and showing achievement over time.

The name “MyPlan” was tested at Hamilton Secondary College with:

• All teaching staff
• Student Voice committee
• A year 9 caregroup
• The whole cohort of year 10 students in SOSE classes.