Learning contracts are common in educational establishments and clarify the expectations of the learner and the educator. However, the same principles can be applied in the workplace to determine the outcomes for personal development activities.
What is a Learning Contract?
A learning contract is a formal agreement between the manager and member of staff and defines the objectives for learning interventions. Following appraisal, a number of learning needs may have been identified in the personal development plan. These needs will be related to the requirements of the jobholder’s current role of for development of additional skills. The learning contract provides a system to clarify responsibility for learning and a measure against which the intervention can be assessed. The learning contract at the most basic level should identify learning objectives for a defined learning activity and the methods for feedback and evaluation.
What is a Learning Objective?
A learning objective describes what the outcome should look like following a learning activity. The outcomes need to be measurable and observable so will cover competency areas in skills, attitudes and behaviours. At the end of the activity, the employer should be able to demonstrate a new or improved ability in any of the areas, or define further learning needs.
Learning objectives should be results focused, determine the desired outcome of the intervention and focus on the results of the activity.
Blooms classification of cognitive skills is often used as a framework for developing learning statements for contracts:
- Knowledge – recalling or remembering but not understanding it, common words used to describe this include, define, describe, state
- Understanding – comprehending the knowledge that has been delivered, common words to describe this includes, calculate, explain, summarise
- Application – using the acquired knowledge in new situations, common words to describe this includes, compile, construct, and show
- Analysis – breaking things down into parts, words used to describe this outcome include analyse, compare and contrast
- Synthesis – creating something new following analysis described using words such as design, produce, devise
- Evaluation – measuring the effectiveness of application or making judgment through a specific require described by appraise, conclude, recommend
What are Learning Activities?
Learning activities includes the broad spectrum of opportunities that now exist for personal development. They range from the traditional classroom-based courses where success can be demonstrated through a formal examination to less structured activities through an informal session. Learning activities are also much more accessible through the development of technology and e-based learning resources. Other areas for consideration include opportunities for mentoring, coaching, shadowing other jobholders, delivering presentations and attending action-learning set. The key to any learning activity is the application back in the workplace and on the job.
Learning contracts are useful tools for the organisation. They promote relationships between the manager and the individual, providing a link with appraisals. In doing so, they provide useful measures of success in achieving organisational objectives.
References
Blooms Classification of Cognitive Skills
