Launch Your Career in College - Learning Agreement - Assignment Example

L E A R N I N G O U T C O M E Assignment Final Learning Agreement with Overview In this section the looks at the sample learning agreement, defines it, describes the breadth component, the depth component, the application component and finally a summary statement noting how the different components are related to one another. The learning agreement that has been provided, gives us an in depth analysis of the student’s personal assessment of his personal strengths and weaknesses, it also states the different opportunities that are available to him and how the student plans to make use of the strengths in a manner that would work to his advantage. Likewise the student has also assessed his personal weaknesses and the threats that can be caused not only by his weaknesses but also by the outside environment that is outside of his control. Through the self assessment that has been carried out in the Learning Agreement the student has come up with ways and means on how best to use strengths and combat the threats by reducing his weaknesses or rather playing to his strengths to the extent that he cannot fail. The self assessment has been used to further set long term and short term goals and decide on the different resources and support that will be required to meet those goals and objectives. Likewise there is commitment on the part of both the student to work to the best of his ability to achieve the goals that have been set. Also there would be a commitment by the university to provide the student with all the support and the resources to a reasonable extent that would enable the student to achieve the set goals and ambitions. It is due to this that the student and the university both sign off on the learning agreement to ensure that it is binding and also to show commitment to the agreement that has been made. The breath components in the learning agreement have been successful in comparing the theoretical foundations of the processes that have been associated with the learning and motivation of the education environment. In the depth components of the learning agreement the student has successfully analyzed, critiqued and even contrasted learning and motivational aspects of the education environment that was covered in the breadth component of the report. In the applications component the principles of both the breadth and depth in student centered methods especially in distance or flexible learning courses have been evaluated. As is apparent from everything that has been stated above and also from the sample learning agreement, the breadth, depth and applications components are all inter connected and are an integral part of the learning agreement and of one another. Assignment 2 – Professional Development Plan In this section we will look at the personal strengths and weaknesses of the author and how the author can use the opportunities and threats that are available the author at this moment. The objective of undertaking this personal assessment is for the author to assess what strengths can be used to make use of the opportunities that are available to him and what weaknesses may cause threats and how those threats can be overcome. The author starts by looking at the strengths and weaknesses in his possession and then moves on to assess the opportunities and threats that are in the horizon. Strengths The author is dedicated and passionate about the line of study that has been undertaken The author has so far received high grades for all the chosen courses and is in good standing with the university and is able to pursue any line of specialty that he would like to choose in the coming years. The author is in good standing with the university and unless something unforeseen happens is expected to graduate on time. The author has a penchant to follow through on all his endeavours and therefore can be trusted to complete this course without leaving half way through. Strongly self motivated and therefore flexible learning programs of this nature are well suited for the author and the author will not be in danger of loosing steam half way through and giving up – as he has always been able to motivate himself in the past. The author is fully focused on meeting his career goals and therefore will do his best to gain this qualification without giving up half way through. Weaknesses The author can sometimes be over enthusiastic and therefore take on too many courses that may cause the grades to deteriorate. Since this is a flexible learning program the author may be impatient to complete the course and therefore may rush through the courses at the cost of letting the grades deteriorate. Opportunities The ability to earn additional credits by doing more courses or extra work on some courses that would enable the author to finally gain an even better grade The ability to gain a scholarship or financial aid based on the high grades that can be obtained by the author Since the tuition fees can increase with every passing year it is a huge incentive for the author to complete the course as fast as possible. Threats Increasing tuition fees may make it difficult to continue studies if there is a drastic increase. Increases in tuition fees may make it necessary for the author to attempt to complete the courses as soon as possible thus sacrificing the learning opportunities that are involved as well as the sacrificing the grades. The current economic situation throughout the globe is making it hard for new graduates to gain employment and the if the unemployment woes continue it will be de-motivating for the author to complete the course. Personal Development Plan Based on the findings that were made from the personal SWOT that was undertaken the author has come up with the following goals and objectives for the short (one year) and long (three year) term goals and the resources and support that will be necessary to make to help the achieve the objectives. Short Term Goals (One Year) To complete the minimum number of courses of required with the option of choosing two more courses that can be completed for additional credits To maintain a B+ average as a minimum and attempt to complete as many courses with A or A+ grading To qualify for a financial grant or scholarship – so as to reduce to the tuition burden. Long Term Goals To complete all the courses and pass with first class honours or as a minimum with a second upper class To complete the courses on time and as soon as possible with the highest possible grade without compromising the quality of the knowledge that is gained. Resources and Support Required Excellent teaching materials and access to all the reading material and other necessary resources Teaching assistance as and when the student needs them to ensure that the highest possible grades can be obtained. Fair and consistent marking and open communication from faculty regarding the manner in which the assignments and tests will be scored. Clear boundaries and definitions on the areas that will be tested and marked Assignment 3 – Self Assessment Looking at the SWOT analysis and the personal development plan that has been made above it is apparent that the author has many strengths and quite a few weaknesses. While the author can play to the strengths in his possession it would be wise to create a self assessment at this stage in an attempt to ensure that the strengths will be fully utilized and that weaknesses will be avoided or rather reduced. The author is highly ambitious, which is an excellent trait for a college and graduate student, however being ambitious can cause the author to sometimes over reach and therefore jeopardize some of the excellent opportunities that maybe available to the author. For example in being overly ambitious the author may attempt to take short cuts through the courses and the studies that have to be completed, thus missing golden opportunities in the practical knowledge that can be gained by taking it slow and maybe prolonging the course in certain areas to gain a more in depth knowledge of certain areas. Likewise the author also as stated in the SWOT analysis may have a tendency to take on too many courses in an attempt to graduate from the course as quickly as possible. While this is commendable and the author maybe able to save on valuable tuition fees by doing so (completing the course before there are increases in the tuition fees that is charged), the author maybe sacrifice the higher grades that can be obtained as too many courses that have to be completed in too little time can compromise the quality of the work that is done b the author and cost the author a high grade in exchange quicker finish (Scheele, 2005). Likewise the current economic climate and the lack of the jobs in the American market is worrying the author very much. Based on the financial investment that is currently being made, along with the sacrifices of time effort and study, the author is worried that that the advantages that can be gained at the end of this course maybe limited to simply a paper qualification with no real practical use to gain employment in tough times (if this economic climate continues into 2010 and 2011 like some economists have predicted). As stated earlier, when the course becomes tough and times become tough such factors may result in de-motivating the author to the extent that the author may not be as motivated to complete the course as the author will be unable to see the “light at the end of the tunnel”. However all of the above does not paint a bleak picture as such. On the contrary there are many different opportunities that are available to the author that can be used to keep the author focused on the courses and motivated to complete the courses and the entire degree program in the stipulated time period in flying colours. Some of the those incentives are the availability of financial aid and scholarships that will help the author to be reduce the burden of tuition and concentrate on completing the program. Further the additional incentive of gaining a scholarship also will motivate the author to continue to gain high grades. Also the statistics in the market indicating that the college graduates will have higher earnings potential and are employed for longer periods of time even in periods of economic downturn will motivate the author to keep focused and on track with regard to completing the course without delay (Scheele, 2005). Therefore looking at everything that has been stated above it is the author’s opinion that the author is in a good position and highly capable of completing this course successfully if the correct resources and support mechanisms are in place. Bibliography Scheele, A. M. (2005). Launch Your Career in College: Strategies for Students, Educators, and Parents. Westport, CT: Praeger. Read More