Strategies for Writing Your First KAM Learning Agreement

1. 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

2. 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.

3. A good Learning Agreement makes your KAM writing easier.

5. Parts of a LA • The Learning Agreement consists of: • Cover page • Overview • The Breadth • The Depth • The Application • Each Part Contains: • Objectives • References • Demonstration

6. 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

7. 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 macro-level 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.

8. What goes into an LA? • Three things: • Your learning objectives—usually 2-4 per KAM component. • 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.

9. Learning Agreement: Breadth • Purpose • Broad understanding of theory • Three to four theories, theorists, concepts • Objectives • What the student will accomplish • Higher order thinking  • References • Primary works • One to two per theorist or idea • Proper APA formatting • Demonstration • How objectives will be achieved.

10. The Breadth is best written around themes or theories, not theorists.

11. 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 Outline #2 Introduction Introduction Grounding Values Lawrence Kohlberg Stages of Development Abraham Maslow Culture and Gender Carol Gilligan Conclusion Conclusion

12. Writing a KAM *one strategy* Scharmer Senge Wheatley Compare and contrast the social systems found in the theories of Scharmer, Senge, and Wheatley. Write Across Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of Scharmer’s, Senge’s, and Wheatley’s theories regarding social systems. Write Across Read Down Read Down Read Down Analyze the theories to discover the major gaps . . . Analyze what remains to be explored and explained. Write Across Synthesize the theories to formulate a framework about how organizations have developed in the areas of quality systems. Write Across

13. Learning Agreement: Depth • Purpose • Carry forward a Breadth theme • Examine in light of recent scholarship • Objectives • What the student will accomplish • Higher order thinking • References • 15 recent scholarly/research articles • Proper APA formatting • Demonstration • Annotated bibliography • How objectives will be achieved

14. Annotated bibliography • Write a one-page annotation each for about 15 research articles in three paragraphs. • Summarizes the article, its research, and findings. • Analyses and critiques the assumptions, research method, and conclusions • Suggests how the article contributes to your overall “passion” and interests you will be developing in your application project.

15. Learning Agreement: Application • Purpose • Practical project • Draws on Breadth and Depth learning • Objectives • What the student will accomplish: the change that will occur • References • Few or none • Support the application project • Demonstration • How objectives will be achieved • Note learning from Breadth and Depth

16. Connections • Each part builds on the next to make a whole KAM. APPLICATION DEPTH BREADTH

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. Practice . . . . • Cover page • One paragraph overview • Breadth: • Objectives • References • Demonstration • Depth: • Objectives • References • Demonstration • Application • Objectives • References (if any) • Demonstration

24. Wrap Up • Don’t make it harder than it really is! • Questions?