2004-2005 FIPP Guidelines: Learning Contract Ideas

Introduction

A Learning Contract is a plan in which you describe what you need to learn, specify how the learning experiences will take place, and indicate what will be produced as evidence that the learning has occurred. Your FIPP Learning Contract should be based on your personal and professional needs for development as well as on the requirements for the FIPP program or your college. It should include a range of learning activities that will help you grow beyond your existing skills and knowledge, and it should be flexible to allow for changes in ideas or opportunities.

The following are ideas you may consider when developing a Learning Contract. Use them as a guide as you complete the contract. Make sure you discuss your ideas with your mentor(s).

Learning Goals and Objectives

Learning goals describe expected outcomes or states. They are what you want to accomplish in the long-term (i.e., over the course of the FIPP internship or longer) and focus on ends rather than means. Your learning goals should reflect where you want to be at the end of the internship and outcomes that will make you the best possible candidate for a residential faculty position.

For example, your goals may include:

Learning objectives describe short-term outcomes. They define the skills, behaviors, and attitudes you wish to acquire to help you achieve your goals. Your learning objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable within a specified short-term time frame, and realistic.

For example, your objectives may include:

Methods of Evaluation

The evaluation methods will help you identify progress toward your goals. Select a variety of methods and tools that will provide the most useful feedback to you, your mentor(s), appropriate Dean, and the FIPP Coordinator.

Evaluation method ideas:

Mentoring Plan

Learning Action Plan

The Learning Action Plan is the roadmap for achieving your goals. It should describe the specific steps you and your mentor(s) will take to help you accomplish the objectives for each goal. The Learning Action Plan should include the following: activities to accomplish each objective, deadlines for completion, intern and mentor responsibilities, needed resources, and success/completion criteria for each objective. For each of your objectives, you may want to ask the following questions: