UMUC

Cooperative Education

Co-op Learning Contract

The Co-op Learning Contract is your first assignment or module. The Co-op Learning Contract is due in the Cooperative Education office signed by you, your worksite supervisor, and your faculty sponsor three weeks from the start date of your Co-op. The Co-op Learning Contract is divided into two portions: the cover page (.pdf) and the worksheets (.pdf).

Learning Contract: Cover Sheet & Work Sheets

Samples:

The cover page for the learning contract is completed only once, and must be done on computer or typewriter. Most of the information requested is demographic; question 7, however, refers to your educational goals. This is in reference to your goal for this Co-op experience, not your long-term educational goals. So rather than writing that you are targeting a career in computers and intend on opening your own computer software company, you would summarize what you are intending to learn for this 15 week period. For example, you might indicate that your goal is to learn how to create and maintain Web pages.

You will need to complete as many Co-op Learning Contract worksheets as tasks you have identified in your learning proposal. If you identified six tasks or activities in your learning proposal, you will complete six worksheets for the Co-op Learning Contract. This must also be typed.

The Co-op Learning Contract worksheet is comprised of seven items for you to complete:

  • Provide a description of the task: No longer than a few sentences to provide a general description of the activity.
  • Expected completion date of this activity: If the activity will be completed within 15 weeks, put the approximate date you think it will be done. If it will not be complete by the end date of your Co-op, write down the end date of your Co-op, which will indicate to us that it is an ongoing activity.
  • Resources required to complete this activity: Anything or anybody you might utilize in order to complete this task. For example, you might be using a reference book, the Internet, and co-workers.
  • How will the outcome of this activity be demonstrated? How would you show an impartial observer that you have completed this activity? Will you have completed a Web page, written up a plan for a workshop, created a PowerPoint presentation? You do not have to present these items to us, but you should indicate how you would demonstrate your new skills.
  • Method of evaluating the outcome of this activity by your worksite supervisor: Will you be submitting a report to your supervisor? Having a discussion about your accomplishments? Providing a demonstration? Talk to your supervisor if you have questions about how he or she will be evaluating your work.
  • Method of evaluating the outcome of this activity by your faculty sponsor: Please talk with your faculty sponsor about this item. For example, your faculty member may want to have an ongoing conversation with you about your tasks, or may want to talk with your supervisor, or may use your assignments as the basis for his or her evaluation of your work.
  • Approval of this activity: Please sign each sheet, ask your worksite supervisor to sign each sheet, and forward your signed contract to your faculty sponsor to sign. Forward the signed Co-op Learning Contract to Cooperative Education by the third week of your Co-op. Remember, each sheet must be signed by you, your worksite supervisor, and your faculty sponsor prior to submission to Cooperative Education.