Using Learning Contracts to Foster Student Employee Growth and Development

A learning contract is an agreement between a student and the employing department that states what the student will accomplish during his time at work. Learning contracts are an approach to effectively balance challenge and support and provide students a purpose for their work, foster a sense of ownership, identify skills to hone, and provide a clear structure and timeline for successfully completing their work. This session will discuss creating effective learning contracts, including developmental theory underlying learning contracts, establishing purpose, responsibilities of involved parties, objective writing, task analysis, timelines, and evaluation of work.