ABSTRACT
Learning contracts are a staple of adult education that have a rich history dating back to at least Malcom Knowles’ descriptions of them (Knowles, 1980, 1986). They have been used to customize learning experiences in ways that meet adult learners’ individualized needs while affording learners high degrees of autonomy. In this chapter, we will provide a nuts-and-bolts overview of learning contracts and related approaches to adult learning before sharing learner and instructor perspectives on using learning contracts in an adult education classroom. The chapter concludes with notes on how these reflections can inform professional practice vis-à-vis learning contracts.
