Learning Contract Generator
Build a complete learning contract in Malcolm Knowles’ own format, objectives, resources, evidence, evaluation, and timeline, ready to copy for a learner or a cohort.
Set up the contract
Fill in at least one objective. Add a second or third if the learner is working toward more than one goal at once.
Learning Contract
| Part | What it captures |
|---|---|
| Learning objective | What the learner will be able to do or know by the target date |
| Resources and strategies | What the learner will use and do to get there |
| Evidence of accomplishment | What will exist as proof the objective was met |
| Evaluation criteria | Who checks the evidence, and against what standard |
| Target date | When the objective is due for review |
Why a learning contract works for adult learners
Malcolm Knowles designed the learning contract to put the learner in charge of their own path, which lines up directly with his self-concept principle, the idea that adults learn best when they feel ownership over what and how they’re learning, rather than following a path set entirely by someone else. A contract negotiated between learner and facilitator gives that ownership a concrete, written form instead of leaving it as a vague intention.
Why each part matters, not just the objective
A learning objective on its own is just a goal. The contract format forces four more decisions that most self-directed learning plans skip, what resources will actually get the learner there, what evidence will prove it happened, who evaluates that evidence, and by when. Skipping any of these turns a contract back into a wish list.
A cohort member wanting to launch a membership community writes the objective, lists tutorials and mentor office hours as resources, defines a live community with 10 active members as evidence, and sets mentor review plus member feedback as the evaluation method, due in eight weeks.
How to write a strong learning contract
- Make the objective specific: “get better at marketing” doesn’t work as well as “write and send three email sequences that each convert above 2%”
- Name real resources: a specific course, mentor, or practice exercise beats a vague “study the material” entry
- Make evidence checkable: something that exists and can be reviewed, a finished project, a recording, a document, works better than a feeling of progress
- Involve someone else in evaluation when possible: self-evaluation alone tends to drift, while a mentor or peer review keeps the standard honest
- Set a real date: an open-ended contract rarely gets finished, since there’s no natural moment to check in against it
Learning contract generator: frequently asked questions
Score a course or module against all six of Knowles’ principles and get specific fixes for the weak ones.
Related reading:
- The best online course platforms for modern marketers and creators
- The best membership platforms for edupreneurs
- YouTube Income Calculator
- Adult Learning Theory (Andragogy): Knowles Principles
- How to teach adult learners
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.