GEN ST 350 A: Sample Learning Contract
Name: _Last name, First name Student #: 123456_ Quarter: Spring Year: 2007
General Studies 350 A provides students with the opportunity to earn academic credit for an internship experience. This learning contract should generate a strategy for students to learn by connecting classroom theory and community-based experience through the completion of an academic project.
- Learning Goals: What do you want to learn as a result of this internship experience? How will these goals relate to your academic work at the University? Be specific.
As an environmental education intern for the Seattle Audubon Society, I want to learn how nature is taught in an urban elementary setting. How do educators cope with the struggles of teaching something that many of these children have not experienced? In addition to my work in the classroom, I will assist in curriculum development and administrative work in the office. Since I am curious about both teaching and non-profit organizations, I hope that interning with this organization will help me determine a possible career path.
The topics that I will be teaching (global warming, urban ecology, water cycle, animal-plant relationships) will be similar to the ones that I learn in my environmental studies courses at the UW. If I enjoy this experience, I may enroll in the Eco-Team Inner-Pipeline seminar next quarter.
- Academic Guidance: Based on your learning goals, list two or three possible topics for your final paper or project that will be handed in for academic credit.
* You MUST agree with your academic sponsor on an appropriate topic.
* This paper or project MUST integrate your fieldwork with analytic, conceptual, critical, and/or theoretical knowledge from your classroom experiences. It may NOT be simply a log or record of your internship experience.
Possible Topics:
1. This history of environmental education in the Pacific Northwest.
2. Teaching environmental ethics.
3. How children develop their attitudes towards the natural world.
- Sources: You are agreeing to complete research outside of the time spent at your internship to integrate your experience with your academic work. List at least 3 sources that you will use, INCLUDING TITLE AND AUTHOR’S NAME.
Be specific, (NOT simply “internet” or “library”).
1. Creating Sustainable Environments in our Schools -- Ed. Tony Shallcross.
2. Environmental Education and Advocacy: Changing Perspectives of Ecology and Education -- Ed. Ed Johnson.
3. The Learning City -- Meg Holden and Sean Connelly.
- Job Description: Do you have any previous experience in this field? Describe your responsibilities working with this organization.
My teaching experience includes peer- tutoring week during high school. I met with a group of 3-4 students twice a week to lead a workshop of their English papers. Working at Seattle Audubon will be my first internship experience.
- Site Supervision: How will you and your supervisor evaluate your work and progress?
My supervisor and I will have weekly progress meetings, in addition to daily check-ins and review of current and ongoing projects. During the middle and end of the quarter, she will perform the same evaluation for me that she does for the staff.
