A learning contract is a formal agreement established between professor and student regarding the attainment of certain learning objectives through a proposal for autonomous coursework.    

This technique is a tool that encourages students to be committed to their own learning process, adapting the objectives that they wish to achieve.  Upon formalizing the agreement by contract, the emphasis is placed on the commitment to the student’s professional and personal development of both parties, and this, in the direction that the student desires.  

It is important to maintain a periodic follow up in each case so that both professor and student can value the process itself.  

Bibilography regarding this methodology

ANDERSON, G. & BOUD, D. (1996). Learning contracts and learning flexibly. Innovations in Education and Training International, 33,4, pp. 221-227.

ATHERTON, J.S. (2005). Teaching and learning: learning contracts.

FRANQUET, T.; MARÍN, D.; MARQUÈS, M. y RIVAS, E. (2006). El contrato de aprendizaje en la enseñanza universitaria. 4rto Congreso Internacional “Docencia Universitaria e Innovación”, Barcelona, 5-7 de julio de 2006.

Examples of the implementation of this methodology

BIRTLE, M. (1998). Negotiated learning contracts in team projects. Annals of Software Engineering, 6, pp. 323-341.

MOTSCHNIG, R.; DERNTL, M. & MANGLER, J. (2003). Web-support for learning contracts: concept and experiences. 2nd International Conference on Multimedia and Information & Communication Technologies in Education.