Learning Contracts Essay

Abstract encyclopaedism narrows be universe utilize in post-secondary education. Adults approach nurture as problem puzzle out and in theory by implementing scholarship coerces, the student becomes to a greater extent have-to doe with in their throw fostering process. This paper discusses the social occasion of a tuition sign up, the advantages and disadvantages for using induces and the general design of a l viewedness contract. The use of discipline contracts provides opportunity for the student to be more involved in their own teaching and apply relevance to their own educational view. cultivation haves trim learning is, in essence, an alternative way of structuring a learning hump It replaces a content plan with a process plan. Malcolm S. Knowles (1991, pg. 39). In the too soon 1970s, the concept that liberals learn differently than children was introduced by Malcolm Knowles. This theory of andragogy has inspired look for and controversy. The comp lexity of bad learning and demand provides opportunities to explore new methods of teaching. Implementing learning contracts is an alternative way to structure the learning experience. Definition.Learning contract by definition is an agreement between students and teachers that grant the student certain freedoms and choices most completing tasks yet requires the student to meet certain specifications (Definition, n. d. , p. 1). According to Knowles (1980), contract learning solves, or at least reduces, the problem of dealing with large-minded differences within any group of adult learners. Knowles (1986) subtends a learning contract as containing specific every(prenominal)y 1. the recogniseledge, skills, attitudes and values to be acquired by the learner (learning objectives)2.how the objectives ar to be accomplished 3. the target date for their accomplishment 4. what manifest result be presented to demonstrate that the objectives have been accomplished and 5. how this pi cture pull up stakes be judged or validated. In academic settings the contract besides specifies how a lot accredit is to be awarded and what grade is to be given (p. 38). Understanding the purpose and advantages of learning contracts and being able to apply them in our future c areers as adult instructors pass on help prepare us for the variety of learning styles our students will have.Purposes of Learning Contracts Learning contracts have multiple purposes. One purpose is that it spate enrich and extend the curriculum. They whoremaster connect educational needs to soulfulness needs. The responsibility of learning is shared by the student and the educator. Learning contracts drive out also challenge the abilities of extremely able students and provide alternate options that tail assemblynister be altered specifically for the differences in abilities, learning styles and interests of individual students. The contract is a tool for structuring the learning process.Uses o f Learning ContractsFindings from research about adult learning have shown that when adults go about learning something naturally, they are highly self-directed (Tough, 1971, 1979). Coincidentally, when adults learn on their own initiative, they have a deeper judgment and more permanent memory of when they learn by being taught. lens nucleus adult learning principles view the adult learner as the special source of data for making sound decisions regarding the learning process (Knowles, Holton, & Swanson, 1998, p. 183). Contract learning is compatible with the nonion that adult learners are self-directed learners.Online instruction is an example where contract learning prat be highly effective. In an online environment, instructors are not physically meeting with the students to discuss learning goals, objectives and expectations. Learning contracts brush off help negotiate and define the learning goals and outcomes. Sample learning contracts shtup be placed on a web scallywa g and the student can determine which contract best reconciles their learning goals. Students can also engage in online discussions about the different options with their peers and gain a broader perspective through shared knowledge.Learning contracts can also be highly effective in the corporate world. Training employees is costly and can require large investments from organizations. Learning contracts allow the employee to take responsibility and attachs motivation in the learning process when they are able to relate the training directly to their job responsibilities. Contracts can also clearly define the guilds expectations of the outcomes. When the expectations are defined, both instructor and trainee can track surface and stay focused on the companys business goals and strategies. Learning contracts are useful in research.Research learning contracts provide act and structure to an unstructured environment such as the research laboratory, epoch ensuring maximal flexibili ty (Contracts, n. d. , para. 2). It allows the student to visualize their own learning. Contracts allow students to define learning objectives, activities, rate of progress and methods of assessment that will evaluate the students triumph or failure. Advantages and Disadvantages of Learning Contracts Advantages. There are some advantages for learning contracts in adult education. Learning contracts resurrect the adult learners self-directed learning experience.They promote creative and critical thought for the student and develop their time management, planning and decision making skills. They can target specific individuals and their specific learning activities. Each students experience can be unique to them and incorporate their own prior knowledge and experience. The contracts also allow students to give out at their appropriate pace and can increase the students motivation which in return can increase their class participation. Contracts can help keep students on course i f the contracts are specific and concrete.This can also help minimize miscommunication or misunderstanding of expectations and outcomes. The contract also provides a means for the learner to receive unbroken feedback regarding progress toward accomplishing learning objectives. Disadvantages. There are disadvantages to using learning contracts. Contracts can be time consuming to develop. They typically are more lucubrate and require you to put in more work in the create stage. Also, students can have confusion especially if their prior learning experience has only been the traditional method of instruction in a classroom.If students are only familiar with instructor taught learning and have not intimate to be self-directed learners, the student could have difficulty adapting to this method. The learning contract method in pedagogic learning may require more instructor involvement verses student driven in andragogic learning. The attitude of the educator can have an influence on the learning contract as well. Some educators feel the learning contract gives the student too much control. Designing Learning Contracts There are many different shipway to design a learning contract.Learning contracts can address the assorted learning needs of different students and may be designed to suit a variety of purposes. Despite the flexibility, there is a general change starting with identification of the content that will be learned. Specific methods and strategies that will be used to learn the content should be identified. Specifying resources to be used in order to learn the content and determining the type of evidence that will be used to demonstrate the learning should be identified. Last, the evidence that will be validated and by whom needs to be defined.Having clarity will lead to improved performance and allow for revision of learning objectives if needed throughout the learning experience (Learning Contracts, n. d. ). Conclusion and Recommendations Conclusi on. Malcolm Knowles debut of andragogy has influenced adult education. A distinguishing characteristic of adult learning programs is the shared control of program planning and facilitation (Knowles, Holton, & Swanson, 1998, p. 133). Engaging adults as partners in their learning experience satisfies their need to know and appeals to their self-concept as independent learners.Learning contracts are a tool that encourages students to participate more actively in their own learning experience. It is an alternative method of structuring a learning experience unique to individuals. It enables educators to work with differences among a group of learners. Learning contracts, more so than any another(prenominal) type of instructional method, create the conditions for personalized instruction. The contract method will not be effective if the adult learner is passive in their own learning experience. Disadvantages include extensive planning and commitment as well as excessive focus on indiv idual success (Duggan, n.d. ). In general, adult learners are going to be self-directed learners as opposed to child learners. Based on the five assumptions learned in WED 486 regarding adult learners adults need to know why they need to know adults need to learn experientially adults approach learning as problem resolving adults learn best when the topic is of immediate value and adults need to amalgamate new ideas with what they already know, learning contracts are an effective tool to enhance a self-directed experience. Recommendations. Additional research related to contract learning involves the fairness of learning contracts.In the traditional method of instructor taught learning, all students are given the same syllabus and information on what it takes to earn a particular grade. In the case of learning contracts, they are individualized to the learner. The contract may be specific as to how each learner will obtain earned grades but will the content be equal? Additional re search is recommended to determine if contracts are efficient if not all students are covering the same material. References Duggan, T. (n. d. ). The disadvantages of training agreements.Retrieved from http//www.ehow. com/list_6075915_disadvantages-training-agreements. html Guidelines for writing. (n. d. ). In Learning contract guidelines PDF. Retrieved from https//dsacms. tamu. edu/sites/sllo. tamu. edu/files/LearningContractGuidelines. pdf Knowles, M. S. (1980). The modern practice of adult education from command to andragogy. Englewood Cliffs, NJ Cambridge Adult Education. Knowles, M. S. (1986). Using learning contracts (p. 38). San Francisco, CA Jossey-Bass Inc. , Publishers. Knowles, M. S. , Holton, III, E. F. , & Swanson, R. A. (1998).Beyond andragogy. In (Ed. ), The adult learner (5th ed. , pp. 153-183). Houston, TX Gulf Publishing. Learning contracts. (n. d. ). In How to create and use learning contracts PDF. Retrieved from http//fcpsteach. org/docs/directions-learning%20co ntracts. pdf Research learning contracts. (n. d. ). In webGuru. Retrieved October 1, 2011, from http//www. webguru. neu. edu/undergraduate-research/structuring-ur-experience/research-learning-contracts Tough, A. (1971, 1979). The adults learning projects. Toronto Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.