Writing the Learning Agreement (LA)

1. Beth Oyler Writing Center Tutor Walden University Writing the Learning Agreement (LA)

2. Goals • Overview of writing the Learning Agreement (LA) • Learn Writing Center resources for writing your LA • Find strategies for organizing your information • Master LA formatting • Know common mistakes to avoid • Questions and Answers

3. Content As always, remember to ask your professors if you have questions about content.

4. Your Job as a Scholar Show that: • You know what you’re talking about • That it’s true • That it matters • That will pass the critical read of your audience KAMs (and therefore LAs as a preview of the KAM) are your assignment for doing that.

5. Defining an LA and KAM LA: Contract where you indicate the subject area objectives (goals), resources (sources), and demonstration of mastery for your KAM. KAM: Comprehensive,independent unit of study in a social science area.

6. What Is and Why Write an LA? • The plan you create for a KAM to help you focus and design your KAM research • A contract, in that you agree to study the KAM according to the plan outlined • It can save you time by allowing your assessor to give feedback and guidance on the framework of your study before you fully invest in researching and writing the KAM.

7. Basic Components • Overview of the KAM: • A summary statement of what you plan to accomplish in each component of the KAM, with an indication of how each of the components is related • Outlines of the Breadth, Depth, and Application: • Including: • The objectives (goals) • The references • A demonstration

8. How Does the LA Work? You submit the LA to your faculty assessor, who may or may not have further suggestions or questions for revision. By reviewing your LA, the assessor assures you that your plan for the KAM appears workable, is sufficiently comprehensive, and meets basic expectations.

9. LA Rubric You can find the Rubric for Developing and Evaluating Learning Agreements on pages 39-41 of the A Guide to the Knowledge Area Modules: Making the KAMs Work for You (available on our website)

10. How Do You Organize an LA? • Four distinct sections: • Overview • Include 120 words or fewer • Breadth • Depth • Application • For a more in-depth list, please see this helpful LA Checklist

11. Organization Overview of KAM Breadth Breadth Objectives Breadth References Breadth Demonstration Depth Depth Objectives… • Please check out the LA template available on our website for proper formatting

12. Overview of KAM (1)The objective of Knowledge Area Module 5 is to acquire knowledge of leadership theories and recent paradigm shifts to learn how these are applied in making information technology (IT) outsourcing or in-sourcing decisions. (2)This will be demonstrated within the Breadth component asan overview of the historical evolution of leadership styles, specifically charismatic, situational, and transactional/transformational. (3)Within the Depth component, an annotated bibliography critiquing current literature on the application of situational leadership or transactional/transformational leadership theories will accompany an essay comparing these styles. (4)The Application will discussthe relationship between transactional/transformational leadership style and the current trends in IT environments. Recommendations will be made on how this style can be best applied during uncertain times within the IT sector.

13. Breadth Section SBSF 8310: Theories of Organizational and Social Systems Breadth Breadth Objectives 1. First objective 2. Second ojective 3. Third objective Breadth References Hansel, G., & Gretel, D. (1973). Candied houses and unfriendly occupants. Thousand Oaks, CA: Fairy Tale Publishing. Smasfaldi, H. (2005). The art of correcting surname mispronunciation. New York, NY: Supportive Publisher Press. Retrieved from http://www.onewaytociteelectronicbooksperAPA7.02.com White, S., & Red, R. (2001). Stop and smell the what now? Floral arranging for beginners [Adobe Digital Editions version]. doi:10.1295/0192748329 Breadth Demonstration The Breadth demonstration will be an essay of approximately 30 pages that meets all the objectives you have outlined above.

14. Breadth Objectives Example AMDS 8512: Classical and Emerging Paradigms of Leadership Breadth Breadth Objectives • Describe the core leadership styles forming the historical foundation of leadership study. • Analyze the approaches of theorists on the subject of power of influence such as Bass and Avolio, Burns, Fielder, Hater and Bass, Hershey and Blanchard, and Weber. • Evaluate and correlate leadership styles to IT leader challenges faced in the past 5 years.

15. Breadth References Example Breadth References Bass, B. M. (1985). Leadership, good, better, best. Organizational Dynamics, 13(8),26–40. doi:10.1037/0002-9432.76.4.482 Fiedler, F. E. (1976). Situational control and a dynamic theory of leadership. In K. Grint (Ed.), Leadership: Classical, contemporary, and critical approaches (pp. 126-148). New York, NY: Oxford University Press Inc. Hater, J., & Bass, B. M. (1988). Superiors’ evaluations and subordinates’ perceptions of transformational and transactional leadership. Journal of Applied Psychology, 73(2), 225-242.

16. Breadth Demonstration Example Breadth Demonstration As a demonstration of obtaining the comprehension of the selected paradigms, a 25- to 30-page paper will be prepared. Analysis of the design and results of research related to situational, transactional, and transformational theories will also be performed.

17. Depth and Application The Depth and Application sections will look similar, each with a list of objectives, references, and demonstration. For more examples, please see our website.

18. Learning Agreement Title Page-Identification-KAM number, title, your name) Overview Breadth- Objectives References Demonstration of Mastery Depth Objectives References Demonstration of Mastery Application- Objectives References Demonstration of Mastery Learning Agreement Three Tiered KAM Model1 1Shepard, M. (2007, May). Mentoring the KAM process. (Available to Walden Faculty from Walden University). Adapted from slide originally created by Joe Ann Hinrichs.

19. LA Formatting Formatting guidelines may change slightly to make KAMs and LAs easier to compile, so use the online versions of the Guidebook and Template as your sources for information!

20. Common Things to Check • Make sure you’re using: • 12 point, serif font • 1-inch margins (Times New Roman) • American English language • Proper heading formatting

21. Insight From the KAM Guidebook While scholarly writing has style conventions, it does not have to be wordy, stuffy, or dispassionate. You should avoid colloquialisms and slang, but do not strive to sound academic. Sentences should not be long and complex. Your convictions about what you are writing, dynamic evidence, and honest voice should not be lost in tedium. Crispness, curiosity, honesty, and enthusiasm are ingredients of impassioned scholarship (p. 36).

22. Common Tendencies To Avoid • Students format at the end of the process • Students don’t keep track of or use Walden resources as they go along • Students don’t use information in their LAs in compiling their KAMs • Students become overwhelmed by not focusing on one task at a time

23. Use Your Resources • Writing Center: writingsupport@waldenu.edu • Library: waldenlb@waldenu.edu • Student Support Team: support@waldenu.edu • Assessors, mentors, and academic community

24. Use Format Help! • LA Template: http://inside.waldenu.edu/c/LATemplate.doc • KAM Template: http://inside.waldenu.edu/c/Files/DocsWritingCenter/KAM_Template1.doc • MS Word Formatting: http://inside.waldenu.edu/c/Student_Faculty/StudentFaculty_12745.htm • Writing Center MS Word Formatting: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/Scholarly-Writing.htm

25. Helpful Web Sites • Learning Agreement: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/393.htm • Specific Curriculum Guides: http://inside.waldenu.edu/c/Student_Faculty/StudentFaculty_941.htm • KAM Development: http://inside.waldenu.edu/c/Student_Faculty/StudentFaculty_2491.htm

26. Writing/Research Resources • Library Resources: http://library.waldenu.edu • Webinars: http://library.waldenu.edu/862.htm#tech • KAM resources: http://library.waldenu.edu/856.htm

27. Questions writingsupport@waldenu.edu