Learning Contract – A Tool for Learning and Assessment

                                   

Learning contracts are formal agreements between the learner and the teacher or supervisor relating to what the learner is going to learn; how the learner will go about learning; what checks will be made to monitor progress and how the learner will provide evidence that learning has taken place. Learning contracts have become popular, both as a learning and assessment tool over the years. It allows for individualised approach to learning activities. Boak (1998) provides an easy to read guide to learning contracts. The chapter 1 gives a good understanding of the basics relating to learning contracts. 

Roger Hiemstra has provided a nice link between the learning style and learning contract with steps to developing a learning contract. While this is an old site the information is written clearly and simply.

Anderson, G., Boud, D. & Sampson, J., 2003, Learning Contracts: A Practical Guide, Kogan Page, London. This book gives a detailed guide to the concept of learning contracts and how they can be used within education to provided individualised approach to learning.

Stephenson, J. & Laycock, M., 2002, Using learning contracts in higher education, Kogan Page, London. This book starts with providing an understanding of learning contracts and goes on to discuss in detail how the learning contracts can be used within higher education to enhance individualised approach to learning. It also discusses how the learning contracts can be used within the work environment by employers and employees to support continuing professional development.

Richardson, S. 2006, Implementing contract learning in a senior nursing practicum, Journal of Advanced Nursing, 12 (2): 201 – 206.

Bailey, M., E. & Tuohy, D. 2009, Student nurses’ experience of using a learning contract as a method of assessment, Nurse Education Today, 29 (7): 758 – 762.

The Effectiveness of The Learning Contract – Education Essay explains how the learning contract was used within the mentoring of a qualified nurse into a specialist nursing practice area.

Examples of learning contracts –

Learning Contract

Module Title –

Focus of learning :

Rationale for choice (brief) :

Learning activities to be undertaken :

Development of assignment :

Student Name :

Module Tutor Name :

Date :

Learning Contract

Module Title:

Module tutor:

Student Name:

Topic of Learning:

Learning Activites          Evidence of learning in assignment        Review date  

           

Learning Contract

Module Title:

Module tutor:

Student Name:

Topic of Learning:

Content                                       Learning Activities                       











 Evidence of learning                    Review/Tutorial Date