Language learning strategies

and study skills

(DT 1133)
Topic 2:
Preparation phase

Week 3
MISS
SHASUMITHA
 LEARNING OUTCOME

After studying this unit you should be able to:

• Define learning contract

• State the benefits of a learning contract
• Understand the use of learner diary
LEARNING
CONTRACT
 What is Contract Learning?

• A learning contract is a working agreement between

students and teacher concerning how a student will meet
specific learning objectives.
• Determine what the student will learn.
• Time period for completion.
• What he/she will do to meet these objectives.
• How he/she will assess their own learning.
• How the teacher will assess their learning.
 What are Learning Contracts?

• Useful tool for self-directed learning.

• Should allow for a shared of responsibility of
planning and learning between the student and
teacher.
• Allows students to actively participate between start
and finish of project or semester.
• Helps students to become intrinsically motivated and
responsible for their own learning.
Examples of Contracts

• Learning Contract
• Personal Learning Contract
• Summer Learning Contract
• Elementary contracts
• Middle School Learning Contract
• High School Contract
• College Learning Contract
• Subject Learning Contract
 What it Does for
Teachers?

• Provides flexibility for teachers to meet the needs

of all students.
• Allows students to work at their own ability which
will challenge all students.
• Students are not forced into completing tasks since
tasks are negotiated between teacher and students.
• Students are not doing ‘meaningless’ work.
 Components of a Learning Contract

1. What will be learned (i.e. outcomes, knowledge, skills)

2. How it will be learned (i.e. activities, projects, readings, learning
behaviours)
3. Amount of time for learning (i.e. due dates, recommended
duration periods of activities)
4. How the work will be evaluated (i.e. grading based on pre-test
results, total- point structure, rubrics posted in advance,
self-correction)
5. Signature of student, teacher and possibly parent/ guardian
(optional)
 How to Set Up a Learning Agreement.

1. Write down student goals and some ideas on how to

obtain them.
2. Schedule a meeting time with students and
parents/advisors at a convenient time.
3. Get student to clearly state their short-term and
long-term goals. MAKE THEM BE SPECIFIC AND
ENCOURAGE THEM!
4. Share your own goals for the student and work together to
come up with a list of goals.
5. Brainstorm/list ideas for the student to obtain their goals.
ALWAYS ASK THE STUDENT FOR IDEAS FIRST AND
THEN SHARE YOUR IDEAS.
5. Create a timeline of deadlines for completing goals. Decide
how progress will be assessed.
6. Make two copies and have both you and the student sign each
one.
 Benefits of Learning Contract.

• Allow students to work independently.

• Allow students to work at an appropriate pace.
• Help teacher keep track of each student’s progress.
• Targets learning styles and multiple intelligences.
• Varies learning by content, process and product.
• Allow students to engage actively in the decision-making
process, directing their course of study.
• Help students to set daily and weekly work goals and develop
management skills.
Sample of Learning Contract
Sample of Learning Contract
In summary, learning contracts are useful tools that encourage
students to become active participants in their learning. Education
has to be an active rather than passive process. To be active,
students must participate in the process of education and become
more independent and responsible for their own learning.
LEARNER
DIARY
 Learner Diary

• A Learning Diary is a log or record or journal of your own work based

learning in professional practice.
• It helps you to record, structure, think about and reflect upon, plan,
develop and evidence your own development in professional practice
and as such it is a document which is unique to you and cannot be
‘right’ or ‘wrong’.
• The Learning Diary is a journal which evidences your own learning
and skills development. It is not just a diary or record of “What you
have done” but a record of what you have learnt, tried and critically
reflected upon.
• One of the most important things it contains is your
conclusions about how what you have learnt is relevant to you
and how you will use the new
information/knowledge/skill/technique in the future.
• It may contain details of problems you have encountered and
solved (or not solved).
• Once you have commenced a Learning Log you will find it a
valuable and useful 'tool' to help your learning and to help you
to think about and structure your own learning.
 How do I ‘do’ a Learning Log?

Try to write something down after every new

learning experience.
• What you did?
• Your thoughts.
• Your feelings.
• How well (or badly) it went?
• What you learnt ?
• What you will do differently next time?
 Questions to Ask in constructing diary entry

• Have I achieved anything? If so, what?

• What progress have I made?
• Have I put any theory into practice?
• How does what I have been doing lead to me becoming
better at a skill?
• How can I use this to plan for the future?
• How can I use this to plan new learning?
• Experiences?