Respecting individual differences among students and meeting their unique needs may be one of the greatest challenges faced by teachers. When having a heterogeneous group of students, teachers need to consider a variety of instructional methods. The literature details a large number of teaching strategies supported by research findings, and the…

Research from different parts of the world recognizes the effectiveness of a learning contract course in improving the personal skills of students. Therefore, UKM has chosen this approach to improve the personal soft skills of its students. The university has carried out this approach by making HHHC9118-Soft Skills as a compulsory course for all…

Few events in the practice of a mental health clinician can be as devastating as the suicide of a client. Although suicide is a rare occurrence, clinicians face assessment of clients' risk for harming themselves on a regular basis. One well-accepted and widely practiced intervention for suicidal ideation is the use of no-harm contracts (NHC),…

Charter schools are given greater autonomy than traditional public schools, and in return they are held more accountable to the public. As such, if a charter school fails to meet its educational objectives, the charter may be revoked or not renewed. Revocation is the withdrawal of a school's charter during its term, while renewal relates to the…

Virtually all counseling is governed by implicit contracts that define both treatment goals and procedures and the client-counselor relationship. Discusses the implications of both types of contracts for counselors, presents a rationale for making these contracts deliberate and overt, and suggests guidelines. (Author)

A selected review of the effects of various grading systems on student motivation at the university level has been summarized and interpreted. Particular emphasis is devoted to contract grading and the identification of student characteristics, both personal and intellectual, that appear to interact favorably with this relatively new grading…

In a contract grading system, the instructor defines the performance required for each grade, the student defines the performance level to which he or she will work, and signs a contract in which the instructor is committed to awarding this predetermined grade if the student attains the appropriate performance level. This paper is based on a…

This review defines contingency contracting and describes its theoretical basis, examines empirical studies using contingency contracts to improve various school-related behaviors, discusses potential advantages and problems, provides recommendations to assist school personnel in effectively using contingency contracts, and suggests areas in need…

Reviews the literature on the nature and scope of cooperative agreements and contractual relationships between community colleges and other public and private institutions and organizations. Finds no generalized set of conditions or functions for contractual or operational agreements. Identifies benefits of such relationships. (DMM)

The academic dismissal of a nursing student for obesity raises questions about the basis for determining compliance with performance contracts and faculty responsibility for protecting student privacy. The case demonstrates the importance of clearly defined expectations and the need to respect privacy concerns. (SK)

Five models of independent learning are suitable for use in adult education programs. The common factor is a facilitator who works in some way with the student in the learning process. They display different characteristics, including the extent of independence in relation to content and/or process. Nondirective tutorial instruction and learning…

The implications of the movement to individualize the curriculum in higher education are examined. The background and basic premises of the movement are explored and the realities and problems of the program at Empire State College are examined. The nature of contract education is discussed. (Author/MLW)

Reviews the literature on reciprocity counseling. Evidence is presented for the usefulness of reciprocity counseling with young, well-educated, White clients with slight to moderate marital distress. Research into the effectiveness of several components of reciprocity counseling including contracting, problem solving training, and feedback is…

In today's usage the distinction between open and distance education is often blurred. Indeed, open education and open learning are not synonymous with distance education and distance learning, a fact that is readily discernible by examining the characteristics of each. Teaching and learning in distance education are based on two elements: a…

Moving beyond question of whether on-line education is beneficial or harmful, explores conditions under which one or another of six instructional methods lecture, collaborative learning, experiential learning, learning contracts, televised courses, and Web-based learning work best. Finds specific methods more appropriate for some subject matters,…