Andragogy Alignment Checker for Online Courses

By Jeff Cobb.  Last Updated on September 12, 2026
Free Tool by Jeff Cobb

Andragogy Alignment Checker

Score a course against Malcolm Knowles’ six principles of adult learning, and get specific fixes for the principles that need work.

Answer for one course or module

Answer honestly rather than aspirationally. The value here comes from seeing where the gaps actually are.

Self-concept
Do learners get real choices in how they move through the material, such as picking topics or setting their own pace?
Yes, clearly
Somewhat
Not really
Prior experience
Does the course ask learners to connect new material to their own past experience, rather than teaching as if they’re starting from zero?
Yes, clearly
Somewhat
Not really
Readiness to learn
Does each module explain why this matters to the learner’s real situation before it dives into content?
Yes, clearly
Somewhat
Not really
Problem-centered orientation
Are lessons framed around solving a real problem the learner has, rather than just covering a topic in the abstract?
Yes, clearly
Somewhat
Not really
Internal motivation
Does the course speak to internal motivators like mastery, confidence, or career growth, rather than leaning on grades or external rewards?
Yes, clearly
Somewhat
Not really
Need to know
Before teaching a new skill or concept, does the course explain why the learner needs to know it?
Yes, clearly
Somewhat
Not really
0%
Andragogy alignment
Knowles’ six andragogy principles at a glance
PrincipleWhat it means
Self-conceptAdults need to feel in control of their own learning path
Prior experienceAdults bring a growing base of experience to connect new material to
Readiness to learnAdults get ready to learn when they see a real reason tied to their life or work
Problem-centeredAdults want to apply what they learn to a real problem right away
Internal motivationAdults respond more to internal drivers than to grades or external pressure
Need to knowAdults want the why before the how

Why this checker exists

Malcolm Knowles’ theory of andragogy describes how adults learn differently from children, and most course creators have absorbed pieces of it without ever checking their course against the whole framework at once. This tool turns the six principles into six direct questions, so a gap that’s easy to miss in the middle of building a course becomes obvious once you’re asked about it directly.

What a low score actually means

A low score on any single principle doesn’t mean the course is bad. It means one specific lever hasn’t been pulled yet, and pulling it is usually a smaller edit than a full course rebuild. A course that scores low on “need to know” often just needs a short reframe at the top of each module, not new content.

Example

A technical skills course that dives straight into steps without explaining why the skill matters will score low on “need to know” and “readiness to learn,” even if the actual instruction is excellent. Adding a two-sentence “why this matters” opener to each module can move both scores meaningfully.

Score this at the module level too. A full course can average out to a decent overall score while one specific module drags on a principle the rest of the course handles well. Running this checker against your weakest-performing module often surfaces the fix faster than scoring the whole course at once.

How to raise a weak principle score

  • Self-concept: add optional paths, a choose-your-focus intro, or the ability to skip material a learner already knows
  • Prior experience: open a lesson by asking learners to reflect on a related experience before introducing new material
  • Readiness to learn: tie each module to a specific, timely trigger, a task they’re facing now, not a hypothetical future one
  • Problem-centered orientation: replace a topic-based lesson title with a problem-based one, then teach toward solving it
  • Internal motivation: speak to confidence, mastery, and identity rather than certificates or completion badges alone
  • Need to know: add a short “why this matters” statement before any new skill or concept, even a single sentence helps

Andragogy alignment checker: frequently asked questions

What is andragogy?
Andragogy is Malcolm Knowles’ theory describing how adults learn differently from children, built around six principles, self-concept, prior experience, readiness to learn, problem-centered orientation, internal motivation, and the need to know why before how.
Do I need to score high on all six principles?
Not necessarily. Some course formats naturally lean harder on certain principles than others. A compliance-driven course, for example, may score lower on self-concept simply because the content is mandated rather than chosen, and that’s a structural reality rather than a flaw to force-fix.
Is this checker based on formal research?
It’s built directly on Knowles’ published andragogy framework, one of the most widely cited models in adult education. The scoring itself is a practical self-assessment tool, not a validated academic instrument, so treat the result as a diagnostic starting point rather than a formal score.
Should I run this before or after building the course?
Both have value. Running it during outline and script planning catches gaps before they’re baked into finished video, while running it on a finished course still surfaces fixable issues, usually smaller framing changes rather than full rebuilds.
How is this different from the Learning Contract Generator?
This checker scores content you’ve already built or planned. The Learning Contract Generator builds a forward-looking planning artifact, Knowles’ own named format, for a learner or a cohort before the learning even starts.
Build a learning contract next

The Learning Contract Generator creates Knowles’ own planning format for a learner or a cohort.

Build a contract → See all free tools

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Jeff Cobb, Founder of Learning Revolution

Jeff Cobb is an expert in online education and the business of adult lifelong learning. Over the past 20+ years he has built a thriving career based on that expertise – as an entrepreneur, a consultant, an author, and a speaker. Learning Revolution is a place where Jeff curates tips, insights, and resources to help you build a thriving expertise-based business. Learn more about Jeff Cobb here.

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