Contract

Clinical Distinction is based on Adult Learning Theory

You Decide What you are going to learn and how you are going to be assessed. You even evaluate yourself.

The Contract and the Narrative Evaluation are the keys to capturing your coursework. They describe the course you have designed: your learning outcomes, your assessment plan and the activities you will complete.

The Contract

The word “contract” is chosen deliberately. You are making a commitment and putting it into words. You have a sponsor to “hold you to it” and when they sign it they are committing to be responsible for supporting you.

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The learning contract, an online form completed by the student, and reviewed and signed by the faculty sponsor, is a key component of the specialty course. Without successful completion of this form, you can not pass the course.

The contract describes the student’s learning needs and goals, framed in the language of competence and entrustability.

It also ensures that the faculty sponsor understands the work they will do as your sponsor.

Finally, done well, the contract will prepare the student to write a powerful narrative evaluation.

Plan Ahead

There are steps you can take to optimize your success but they require planning ahead.

First: It’s a good idea to meet with your Course Director before you complete your contract to discuss your ideas and make sure you understand the requirements

Second: If you submit your contract at least a week, if not more, before the course starts you will have two opportunities:

.Jennifer Weiss, D.O.
Assistant Dean of Faculty Development

Your course director can give you valuable feedback that allows you to refine your ideas, learning outcomes and assessment tools so that your sponsor will be able to more effectively evaluate you.

You can send your contract to your Clinical Distinction Course Director before you send it to your sponsor by checking the second item at the end of the form. Select “before sending this to my faculty sponsor I would like my CD course director to review it” and the form will go directly to your course director. Their comments won’t appear on the version you send to your sponsor.

After you make revisions based on your course director’s advice, you should select “Please send this contract to my sponsor for review,” If your contract is early enough there is plenty of time for your sponsor to make suggestions and send the form back to you. Then you can revise your plan and still have the contract completed by the first day.

A great contract helps you prepare for your residency application too!
- When you write your narrative evaluation, you’ll refer back to your contract and use the goals and learning outcomes you decided on to determine your growth and development during the project.
- The more refined and robust your contract is, the more likely you’ll have a shining narrative evaluation and dean’s letter.

A few more details

The contract is due on the first day of your clinical distinction course.

Criteria for passing are different then learning outcomes. When you complete your contract you’ll be asked about these things separately.

The contract is a different form than the rotation request form. The rotation request form is due 60 days before your clinical distinction course begins.

When your contract is approved by your sponsor you’ll be notified by email. If you aren’t, your contract isn’t approved, which means your plan isn’t approved.

The contract is part of an automated workflow process. Make sure emails are correct or the workflow will break.

Here are 3 questions to ponder when dreaming about your clinical distinction course. When you can answer these questions you’ll be better prepared to write your contract of learning.

Tips

Coming

More Information

Learn about the contract, the narrative and the workflow process by meeting with your course director. Or check out these learning modules on Canvas:

Learn more

Check out these blogs

About the contract and the narrative, a video.

Clinical Distinction