en Nursing Education Nursing Education Original Research Original Research <p><strong>Background: </strong>The most important responsibilities of an education system are to create self-directed learning opportunities and develop the required skills for taking the responsibility for change. The present study aimed at determining the impact of a learning contract on self-directed learning and satisfaction of nursing students.<br> <strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; Methods:</strong> A total of 59 nursing students participated in this experimental study. They were divided into six 10-member groups. To control the communications among the groups, the first 3 groups were trained using conventional learning methods and the second 3 groups using learning contract method. In the first session, a pretest was performed based on educational objectives. At the end of the training, the students in each group completed the questionnaires of self-directed learning and satisfaction. The results of descriptive and inferential statistical methods (dependent and independent t tests) were presented using SPSS.<br> <strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; Results:</strong> There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in gender, grade point average of previous years, and interest toward nursing. However, the results revealed a significant difference between the 2 groups in the total score of self-directed learning (p= 0.019). Although the mean satisfaction score was higher in the intervention group, the difference was not statistically significant.<br> <strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; Conclusion:</strong> This study suggested that the use of learning contract method in clinical settings enhances self-directed learning among nursing students. Because this model focuses on individual differences, the researcher highly recommends the application of this new method to educators.<br> &nbsp;</p> Clinical teaching, Learning contract, Self-directed learning, Learning Methods, Training, Autonomous learning, Education, Active learn-ing, self-confidence, Training activity & support, Collaborative learning 414 418 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1725-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Mahboobeh Sajadi dr.sajadi@arakmu.ac.ir 200319475328460034081 200319475328460034081 No Academic Member of Pediatrics Nursing Department, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. Neda Fayazi nedafayazi10@yahoo.com 200319475328460034082 200319475328460034082 No Academic Member of Saveh University of Medical Sciences, Kaveh Industrial Estate Company, Saveh, Iran. Andrew Fournier afournier2@my.gcu.edu 200319475328460034083 200319475328460034083 No College of Doctoral Studies, Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Ahmad Reza Abedi Abedi.a@ArakMU.ac.ir 200319475328460034084 200319475328460034084 Yes Academic Member of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research Center (TCMRC), Department of Medical – Surgical, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.