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Learning Learning AgreementAgreement

Debs WilsonDebs Wilson

A Learning Agreement (LA) is an A Learning Agreement (LA) is an opportunity for you to reflect upon your opportunity for you to reflect upon your goals for this course as well as your goals for this course as well as your goals throughout your Masters goals throughout your Masters programme. programme.

What is a Learning What is a Learning Agreement?Agreement?

Begin with listing your learning goals Begin with listing your learning goals and what you hope to learn :and what you hope to learn :

Do you want to improve your study Do you want to improve your study skills or learn more about a subject skills or learn more about a subject area? area?

Are you trying to decide what to Are you trying to decide what to specialise in?specialise in?

How do I create my How do I create my LA?LA?

Next, list the activities you plan on Next, list the activities you plan on doing to achieve your learning goals.doing to achieve your learning goals.

Will you meet with your tutor Will you meet with your tutor regularly during his/her office hours regularly during his/her office hours to discuss how you are doing in the to discuss how you are doing in the course?course?

Will you keep a To Do List?Will you keep a To Do List? What approaches will you use in What approaches will you use in

order to meet your learning goal?order to meet your learning goal?

How do I create my How do I create my LA?LA?

List the timeframe you expect to have List the timeframe you expect to have your goal completed.your goal completed.

Map out each of your projectsMap out each of your projects Specify main goals / time-scalesSpecify main goals / time-scales Factor in learning specific skills (i.e. Factor in learning specific skills (i.e.

software)software)

How do I create my How do I create my LA?LA?

Explain how you know you achieved Explain how you know you achieved your learning goals your learning goals Map out each of your Map out each of your projects:projects:

Will you look at your assignments and Will you look at your assignments and projects throughout the course (e.g., projects throughout the course (e.g., exams, quizzes, essays, class notes, exams, quizzes, essays, class notes, presentations)?presentations)?

Will you ask your instructor or your Will you ask your instructor or your tutors to observe and give you tutors to observe and give you feedback and suggestions for feedback and suggestions for improvement?improvement?

How do I create my How do I create my LA?LA?

Committment Page:Committment Page: The Commitment Page is your The Commitment Page is your

promise to yourself that you will do promise to yourself that you will do your best to commit to your learning your best to commit to your learning goalsgoals

Sign and return to me. I will keep a Sign and return to me. I will keep a copy and give the original to youcopy and give the original to you

In the final class we will review the In the final class we will review the agreement and discuss if/how you agreement and discuss if/how you achieved these goalsachieved these goals

How do I create my How do I create my LA?LA?

Learning Goals (LGs)

How will you achieve your

LGs?

Timeframe to

complete goals

How will you know you

have achieved your LGs?

1. Academic Development: (i.e. practice academic integrity, learn about this subject, communicate with tutor on a regular basis)

Discuss extra help options with my instructor when issues arise early

Speak to instructor/ tutor regarding my performance and ways to improve

Weekly Improvement on assignments as related to extra help.

2. Learning Skills ( i.e. study skills, time management, strategies, note taking skills)

To develop my study skills, inc. time management and note taking by identifying my strengths and weaknesses

I will record my grades and focus on how I approach an assignment as well as areas that I need improvement

Ongoing Request feedback from my tutor on the development of my learning styles

Learning Goals (LGs)

How will you achieve your

LGs?

Timeframe to

complete goals

How will you know you

have achieved your LGs?

3. Additional Skills (i.e. using technology, journals, software)

Improve ability to prioritize objectives and tasks within a deadline or due date

Create a study-plan in conjunction with my instructor and/or tutor

By Week 6 Goals of study plan met within set timeframe.

Improve my computer / technology skills

Use email and course management systems to investigate departments and communicate with instructors.

Ongoing Proactive in asking questions to solve technology concerns/problems

The point of this exercise is to allow The point of this exercise is to allow you the time to reflect on how you you the time to reflect on how you will be successful in your Masters will be successful in your Masters study and to use this reflection as a study and to use this reflection as a tool for discussion between you and tool for discussion between you and your instructor/tutor.your instructor/tutor.

What’s the point of What’s the point of LA’s?LA’s?

Answer the following questions:Answer the following questions: Of the new and recent developments Of the new and recent developments

in my area of interest, what interests in my area of interest, what interests me the most?me the most?

What are my current skills and What are my current skills and strengths for pursuing these strengths for pursuing these interests?interests?

What do I need to do so that I can What do I need to do so that I can get involved in these new areas?get involved in these new areas?

Self Assessment (10 Self Assessment (10 mins)mins)

Answer the following questions:Answer the following questions: What knowledge, skills or abilities What knowledge, skills or abilities

are important for increasing or are important for increasing or maintaining the quality of my maintaining the quality of my performance?performance?

What knowledge, skills or abilities What knowledge, skills or abilities will help me prepare for will help me prepare for opportunities or roles I might have opportunities or roles I might have in the future?in the future?

Self Assessment (10 Self Assessment (10 mins)mins)

Answer the following questions:Answer the following questions: Compared to the development needs Compared to the development needs

suggested by these factors, other suggested by these factors, other interests for development that are interests for development that are important to me include?important to me include?

Self Assessment (10 Self Assessment (10 mins)mins)

Answer the following questions:Answer the following questions: What skills are ‘must haves’ for me What skills are ‘must haves’ for me

in where I want to be?in where I want to be? What are my limiting factors? Do I What are my limiting factors? Do I

have any?have any? What is most important to me in my What is most important to me in my

future career?future career?

Self Assessment (10 Self Assessment (10 mins)mins)

What I want to accomplish and the What I want to accomplish and the knowledge/skills I want to acquire knowledge/skills I want to acquire or improve by:or improve by:

this time next year are:this time next year are: the end of two years are:the end of two years are: the end of five years are:the end of five years are:

Goal Development Goal Development Questions for your Questions for your JournalJournal

What barriers or obstacles might What barriers or obstacles might prevent me from accomplishing prevent me from accomplishing my goals on time?my goals on time?

What can I do to overcome these What can I do to overcome these barriers or obstacles?barriers or obstacles?

What resources are available to What resources are available to help me?help me?Goal Development Goal Development

Questions for your Questions for your JournalJournal

Committment Page Committment Page This Learning Agreement confirms that I am committed This Learning Agreement confirms that I am committed to my own academic success and my proposed plan of to my own academic success and my proposed plan of action to achieve my learning goals. The agreement also action to achieve my learning goals. The agreement also confirms that my instructor / tutor has reviewed and confirms that my instructor / tutor has reviewed and understands what I hope to achieve in this programme understands what I hope to achieve in this programme of study. of study.

StudentStudent

Sign Here:______________________________ Date:_________Sign Here:______________________________ Date:_________

Instructor Instructor

Sign Here:______________________________ Date:_________Sign Here:______________________________ Date:_________