| name | cohort-program |
| description | Designs cohort-based learning programs with weekly structure, peer interaction, accountability systems, and graduation criteria. |
| allowed-tools | Read Write Glob |
| metadata | {"author":"matthewhitcham","version":"1.0"} |
Cohort Program
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when you need to:
- Design a cohort-based learning program with structured weekly progression
- Create a group learning experience with peer interaction and accountability
- Build a multi-week program with graduation milestones and community elements
- Structure a paid or free cohort with clear outcomes and engagement systems
DO NOT use this skill for self-paced courses, one-off workshops, or content-only programs without a group element. This is for time-bound, group-based learning with accountability built in.
Core Principle
A COHORT PROGRAM IS NOT A COURSE WITH A START DATE — IT IS A TRANSFORMATION CONTAINER WHERE PEER PRESSURE, STRUCTURED DEADLINES, AND GROUP ACCOUNTABILITY PRODUCE RESULTS THAT SELF-PACED LEARNING CANNOT.
Phase 1: Brief
Gather the inputs that define the cohort experience.
Required Inputs
| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|---|
| Program topic | "What transformation or skill does this cohort deliver?" | No default — must be provided |
| Duration | "How many weeks will the cohort run?" | 6 weeks |
| Cohort size | "How many participants per cohort?" | 20-30 |
| Delivery format | "Live calls, async content, or hybrid?" | Hybrid (weekly live call + async lessons) |
| Price point | "What will you charge per participant?" | $497 |
| Target outcome | "What specific result should graduates achieve?" | No default — must be provided |
Brief Template
## Cohort Program Brief
**Program:** [Name]
**Transformation:** [From X to Y in Z weeks]
**Duration:** 6 weeks
**Cohort size:** 25 participants
**Format:** Weekly 90-min live call + async lessons + community
**Price:** $497
**Graduation criteria:** [Specific deliverable or milestone]
GATE: Do not proceed until the user confirms the brief.
Phase 2: Program Architecture
Design the weekly structure, interaction systems, and accountability framework.
Weekly Structure Template
Each week follows this rhythm:
## Week [N]: [Theme]
**Learning objective:** [One clear outcome]
**Async content:** [Lesson topic, estimated time]
**Live call agenda:**
- Hot seat (15 min)
- Teaching segment (30 min)
- Breakout exercise (20 min)
- Q&A (15 min)
- Week preview + homework (10 min)
**Homework:** [Specific deliverable]
**Peer activity:** [What participants do together]
Accountability Systems
Build at least three of these into the program:
- Accountability pods — groups of 3-5 who check in weekly
- Homework deadlines — specific due dates with public sharing
- Progress tracker — visible dashboard showing completion
- Hot seats — live coaching slots that require preparation
- Peer review — participants give feedback on each other's work
Graduation Criteria
Define exactly what "completing" means:
- Minimum attendance (e.g., 4 of 6 live calls)
- Homework completion (e.g., 5 of 6 assignments submitted)
- Final project or deliverable submitted
- Optional: peer feedback given on at least 3 classmates' work
GATE: Present the full program architecture and wait for approval.
Phase 3: Build
Create the complete program documentation including all weekly content outlines, facilitation guides, and participant materials.
Deliverables to Create
- Program overview page — what participants get, weekly topics, outcomes, logistics
- Week-by-week content outline — lesson topics, key teaching points, exercises
- Live call facilitation guide — agenda, timing, transition scripts, breakout prompts
- Participant welcome packet — expectations, tools needed, community guidelines, schedule
- Accountability pod guide — how pods work, meeting template, check-in prompts
- Homework assignments — one per week with clear instructions and submission format
- Graduation requirements — checklist of completion criteria
Community Guidelines
Include rules for the cohort community space:
- Introduce yourself using the provided template
- Share wins and lessons weekly
- Give feedback when asked (use the SBI framework: Situation, Behavior, Impact)
- No pitching or selling to other participants
- What is shared in the cohort stays in the cohort
Phase 4: Polish
1. Engagement Calendar
Create a visual calendar showing every touchpoint:
## 6-Week Engagement Calendar
Week 1: Welcome email → Lesson 1 → Pod assignment → Live call → Homework 1
Week 2: Lesson 2 → Pod check-in → Live call → Homework 2 → Midweek prompt
...
2. Facilitator Prep Checklist
## Pre-Cohort Launch Checklist
- [ ] Community space set up with channels
- [ ] All 6 lessons drafted and scheduled
- [ ] Live call links created and calendar invites sent
- [ ] Accountability pods assigned
- [ ] Welcome packet sent to all participants
- [ ] Homework submission system ready
- [ ] Graduation criteria communicated
3. Post-Cohort Plan
- Graduation celebration (live call or async thread)
- Feedback survey (link to student-feedback-form skill)
- Alumni community or next-step offer
- Testimonial collection sequence
Example 1: "Launch Your First Digital Product" (6 Weeks)
Week 1: Idea Validation — validate your product idea with 10 real conversations
Week 2: Minimum Viable Product — build the simplest version that delivers value
Week 3: Sales Page — write copy that converts using the PAS framework
Week 4: Launch Sequence — build a 5-email launch sequence
Week 5: Launch Week — execute your launch with daily action items
Week 6: Post-Launch — analyze results, collect testimonials, plan next steps
Example 2: "Content Marketing Mastery" (4 Weeks)
Week 1: Content Strategy — define pillars, audience, and publishing cadence
Week 2: Writing Systems — create templates and workflows for consistent output
Week 3: Distribution — build a repurposing and distribution engine
Week 4: Measurement — track what matters and double down on winners
Anti-Patterns
- Content dump without interaction — a cohort without peer elements is just a course with a deadline. Build in pods, breakouts, and peer review.
- Too much content per week — participants have businesses to run. Cap async content at 60 minutes per week.
- No graduation criteria — without clear completion standards, engagement drops after week 2.
- Cohort too large — beyond 40 participants, individual attention disappears. Keep it intimate.
- No async backup — life happens. Record live calls and provide async alternatives for every synchronous activity.
- Skipping the welcome packet — participants who do not know what to expect disengage fast.
Recovery
- User has no community platform: Recommend Slack (free), Circle, or a private Facebook group. Provide setup instructions for each.
- User wants a 12-week cohort: Warn about fatigue. Suggest splitting into two 6-week levels or adding a mid-program break at week 6.
- User has never facilitated live: Provide a simplified facilitation script with exact timing and transition phrases.
- Cohort size under 10: Adjust — skip breakout rooms, use full-group discussion instead. Pods of 2-3 instead of 4-5.
- No clear transformation outcome: Ask "What will participants be able to do after this program that they cannot do today?" Press until the answer is specific and measurable.
