Present composition teaching and testing techniques do not formally capture student improvement across essays. Contract learning, a procedure in which student essays are error-analyzed for repeated mistakes, can do so. Correction of those repetitions becomes a set of goals on a written contract signed by the teacher and student, and the student…

A survey was conducted of all 106 community colleges in California to determine the characteristics of programs implemented by the colleges to provide employee training for business, industry, and government. The survey gathered the following information on all existing programs: number of years in existence, number of contracts, enrollment,…

Individualized instructional contracts are described as a useful approach to increasing on-task behaviors of mildly handicapped students in the regular classroom. Their step-by-step design and implementation are outlined. A blank contract form and sample contract of activities are provided. (Author/JW)

Article described a project designed to adapt contract teaching on a multi-level basis to the environment of the smaller high school. (Author/RK)

Describes the Marital Studies Program focusing on intervention modules and specific assessment procedures. Then looks at a specific case study and describes how therapeutic objectives for the couple are accommodated within the over-all system. Comments on this article are included at the end. (Author/EJT)

Stresses the advantages of contract grading to both students and teachers. A sample contract defines behavioral objectives on various cognitive levels. (MH)

Proposes two kinds of contract grading criteria relating to preparation and measurement of assignment objectives. (MH)

Performance contracting offers advantages over traditional grading in that it provides for individualization of instruction, provides for measureable goals and objectives, and allows for individual growth rates. Two methods of performance contracting are possible; the first type calls for the student to determine what grade they desire for the…

Advice is given to course teams from the Social Sciences faculty at the Open University in England on the proper use of educational consultants. Practical suggestions on the selection of appropriate tasks for consultants and of consultants for tasks are followed by suggestions on briefing, contracting, and maintaining liaison with consultants.…

Management by Objectives (MBO), a management system, is a vehicle to organize an agency or institution to enable it to more effectively carry out its plan. The system involves the following steps: (1) formulation of the mission statement (designation of the agency's basic purpose) and development and acceptance of the organization's long-range…

This document presents contract grading as a system of evaluation for speech communication courses at the high school or college level. Contract grading can provide the means to reduce the element of threat that impedes effective interpersonal communication between teacher and student. Contract grading is a business like arrangement whereby the…

The handbook's purpose is to present an overview of the concept of accreditation by contract as proposed by the National Association of Private, Nontraditional Schools and Colleges. A secondary purpose is to identify standards and a range of possible procedures or guidelines that might be used by institutions interested in the development of plans…

Most faculty collective bargaining agreements now require supplemental compensation for the performance of any duty that is in addition to what is defined as the normal teaching load for college faculty. Virtually all agreements state very clearly what a basic faculty load is, and all other services are thus defined or designated as overload or…

Although grades have been criticized for lack of reliability, end-of course grades and grade-point averages are reliable enough for most uses. The charge of unreliability applies only to grades on themes, tests, or other individual pieces of student work. On the other side of the controversy, grades have been said to be essential to the learning…