Freshman English Program Learning Contract
To be truly self-directed is to be empowered - to decide what is most important to you, how you want to go about learning it, and when you're done. The learning is done not to earn grades but because it has to be done if people are to lead meaningful lives.
- Stephen D. Brookfield, 2013, from Powerful Techniques for Teaching Adults
Project Overview
The Freshman English Program at Kyungpook National University is intended to be a task-based, student-centered learning environment. As an instructor in this program, I identified a need in my classes to increase opportunities for learners to engage in student-directed work. This need was informally established through observation of classes and discussions with students in the program.
The objective of the project is to increase student-directed learning and instill a desire to continue learning outside of the classroom. Through the implementation of a learning contract, the students have been empowered to choose their own learning goals, create their own schedule, set a deadline and design their own assessment for their learning.
Contract Template
The format of this contract is intentionally vague and open-ended. The idea is to allow the students full control of their learning. Through discussions with peers and self reflection, each student identifies a goal related to their language learning. Again through discussion and reflection the students choose a means to work towards their goals as well as setting their own deadlines. Instructor assistance and feedback is available at all stages.
Assessment
Template
As with the contract template, the assessment is very open-ended to allow students to think critically and choose the most appropriate and helpful way to assess their work. Peer discussions as well as teacher feedback are tools available to all learners to assist them in developing the most useful and meaningful assessment of their learning.The 10 point form includes peer, self and instructor assessment.
Click here for the assessment template
Group Chat
These students chose to work together on this project and schedule time periodically to chat in English using a popular text service smartphone app. Each student had slightly different learning goals and thus chose to use the chats in unique ways. In the example linked below, the student chose to reflect on the text chats as a way to practice and improve her writing skills. She included screenshots of some of the chats for reference.
Click here to view the contract and reflections
Pronunciation Practice
This student chose to increase his vocabulary and improve his pronunciation by watching a TV show in English. By listing unknown words, defining them and recording himself speaking them he worked to achieve his goal. He created an excellent powerpoint presentation as a way to consolidate and demonstrate his hard work.
Click here for the learning contract