Strategies for Writing Your
First KAM Learning Agreement
Seminar Objectives:
• Identify the purpose and elements of the key learning
agreement sections
• Draft each section of the learning agreement
Seminar Activities:
• Introductions and overview
• Learning agreement presentation
• Writing and revising your learning agreement
Getting to know you . . .
• Introduce faculty for the session
• Introduce students
• College and program
• Number of Learning Agreements and KAMs
complete
• Proposed first Learning Agreement or KAM
• Concerns about KAMs and the KAM process
• Pros and Cons of the KAM approach.
A good Learning
Agreement makes
your KAM writing
easier.
Parts of a LA
• The Learning Agreement consists of:
• Cover page
• Overview
• The Breadth
• The Depth
• The Application
Each Part Contains:
•Objectives
•References
•Demonstration
Sample Title Page
Learning Agreement
Knowledge Area Module 3:
Principles of Social Systems
Student: Abraham Lincoln
Honestabe.lincoln@waldenu.edu
Student ID # A135792468
Program: PhD in Education
Specialization: Community College Leadership
KAM Assessor: Dr. Kurt Schoch kurt.schoch@waldenu.edu
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Karin Treiber karin.treiber@waldenu.edu
Walden University
February 15, 2015
Sample Overview
Overview example:
Systems theory may have an effect on how organizational culture is
shaped including how plans and policies are implemented. A critical
examination of system theory philosophy may assist community
college leadership in evaluating a wide variety of system-oriented,
theoretical approaches to social issues and in applying systems
techniques and methods to specific problems of restructuring to create
a more sophisticated learning organization. To understand the macrolevel conceptions of social organizations, institutions, and systems,
KAM 3 will examine the theories of Scharmer, Senge, and Wheatley for
upgrading broad quality processes that are used routinely in
community colleges around the country.
What goes into an LA?
•
Three things:
1. Your learning objectives—usually 2-4 per KAM
component.
2. Your learning resources: books, articles, manuals,
etc. that you will study and consult.
3. Your demonstration that you have met your objectives.
for each of the three parts of the KAM:
Breadth, Depth, and Application.
Learning Agreement: Breadth
•
•
•
•
Purpose
o
Broad understanding of theory
o
Three to four theories, theorists, concepts
Objectives
o
What the student will accomplish
o
Higher order thinking
References
o
Primary works
o
One to two per theorist or idea
o
Proper APA formatting
Demonstration
o
How objectives will be achieved.
The Breadth is best
written around
themes or theories,
not theorists.
Which Breadth outline is better?
•
•
•
•
•
and why?
Objective: Compare and contrast Kohlberg, Maslow, and
Gilligan’s theories of moral development in terms of their
grounding values, stages of development, and cultural and
gender applicability.
Outline #1
Introduction
Grounding Values
Stages of Development
Culture and Gender
Conclusion
Outline #2
Introduction
Lawrence Kohlberg
Abraham Maslow
Carol Gilligan
Conclusion
Scharmer
Compare and contrast the social
systems found in the theories of
Scharmer, Senge, and Wheatley.
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses
of Scharmer’s, Senge’s, and Wheatley’s
theories regarding social systems.
Analyze the theories to discover
the major gaps . . . Analyze what
remains to be explored and
explained.
Synthesize the theories to formulate a
framework about how organizations
have developed in the areas of quality
systems.
Senge
Wheatley
Learning Agreement: Depth
•
•
•
•
Purpose
o
Carry forward a Breadth theme
o
Examine in light of recent scholarship
Objectives
o
What the student will accomplish
o
Higher order thinking
References
o
15 recent scholarly/research articles
o
Proper APA formatting
Demonstration
o
Annotated bibliography
o
How objectives will be achieved
Annotated bibliography
•
Write a one-page annotation each for about 15
research articles in three paragraphs.
1. Summarizes the article, its research, and findings.
2. Analyses and critiques the assumptions, research
method, and conclusions
3. Suggests how the article contributes to your overall
“passion” and interests you will be developing in your
application project.
Learning Agreement: Application
•
•
Purpose
o
Practical project
o
Draws on Breadth and Depth learning
Objectives
o
•
•
What the student will accomplish: the
change that will occur
References
o
Few or none
o
Support the application project
Demonstration
o
How objectives will be achieved
o
Note learning from Breadth and Depth
Connections
• Each part builds on the next to make a whole KAM.
APPLICATION
DEPTH
BREADTH
For example:
•
I am a student in the Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences
and I am working on KAM 1: Principles of Social Change. Here is what I
might do in this KAM:
• Breadth
•
Examine theories about poverty: its causes and effects on society
• Depth
•
Analyze research that connects poverty and unemployment
• Application
•
Design a job training project for unemployed teenagers
Another example:
•
I am a student in the Ph.D. in Education, Early Childhood
Education specialization and I am working on KAM 2: Principles of
Human Development. Here is what I might do in this KAM:
• Breadth
•
Examine theories about physical, cognitive, and
psychosocial development in the preschool years.
• Depth
•
Analyze research on the factors that support normal
development in young children.
• Application
•
Design a workshop for parents of young children wanting to
support their child’s growth and development.
Application Project Ideas
• Plan for a study
• Grant proposal
• Workshop design (In-service)
• Career path design (or clinical ladder, for
nursing): paraprofessional to professional
• College syllabi review for curriculum revision
• Assessment protocols (self-assessments, teacher
assessments of student progress)
• Program evaluation design
• Research-based instructional innovations
Application Project Ideas – more
• Design a website
• Theme-based web quests to address diverse student
needs or multiple intelligences
• Content analysis-media, textbooks, etc.
• Articles for publication, following journal guidelines
• Bill analysis
• Pre- and post-assessments to evaluate educator
training
• Evaluation instrument for a program
Application Project Ideas – more
• Analyzing ‘successful models’ of school policy.
• Create a plan for a school district’s school
improvement plan
• Develop a teaching module which addresses a way to
foster diversity in the school building
• Develop a model to encourage the integration of
technology into the curriculum
• Develop a crisis management plan for adolescent
learners in public schools to prevent drop out rates.
• White paper with practical implications
Application Project Ideas – more!
• Charter school petition
• Program Assessment protocol
• Community resource booklet for families with agency
needs
• Develop a parent guide for parents of multicultural
children: to aid home-to-school transitions.
• Strategic plan
• Training session
• Needs assessment
Practice . . . .
• Cover page
• One paragraph overview
• Breadth:
• Objectives
• References
• Demonstration
• Depth:
• Objectives
• References
• Demonstration
• Application
• Objectives
• References (if any)
• Demonstration
Wrap Up
• Don’t make it harder than it really is!
• Questions?