<PAGE>
                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


                       FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


                  This FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Amendment"),
made and entered into as of January 8, 2003, is by and among PLATO Learning,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("PLI"), PLATO, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("PI"), CyberEd, Inc., a Nevada corporation ("CyberEd"), TeachMaster
Technologies, Inc., a South Dakota corporation ("TeachMaster"), NetSchools
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("NetSchools" and collectively with PLI, PI,
CyberEd and TeachMaster, the "Borrowers" and each, a "Borrower"), the banks at
any time party hereto (individually, a "Bank" and, collectively, the "Banks")
and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association
("Wells Fargo"), one of the Banks, as agent for the Banks (in such capacity, the
"Agent").

                                    RECITALS

         1. The Banks and the Borrowers entered into a Credit Agreement dated as
of December 20, 2001 (the "Credit Agreement"); and

         2. The Borrower desires to amend certain provisions of the Credit
Agreement, and the Banks have agreed to make such amendments, subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in this Amendment.

                                    AGREEMENT

         NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby covenant
and agree to be bound as follows:

         SECTION 1. CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit
Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise require.

         SECTION 2. AMENDMENTS. The Credit Agreement is hereby amended as
follows:

         2.1. DEFINITIONS. The definitions of "Debt Service Coverage Ratio",
"Maturity Date" and "Permitted Redemptions" contained in Section 1.1 of the
Credit Agreement are amended to read in their entireties as follows:

         "Debt Service Coverage Ratio" means

         (a) for the periods of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or
about January 31, 2003, April 30, 2003, and July 31, 2003, the ratio of:

              i. EBITDA for each period of twelve consecutive months plus Rent
                 Expense for such period minus any cash paid for federal, state,
                 local and/or foreign income taxes during such period minus any



<PAGE>


                 cash expenditures for purchase, redemption or retirement of any
                 stock of any class of the Borrower or cash dividends or any
                 other cash distributions made on account of any stock of any
                 class of the Borrower during such period (other than Permitted
                 Redemptions);

                 to

             ii. the sum of Interest Charges for such period plus Rent Expense
                 for such period plus scheduled principal payments on Debt
                 during such period;

         (b) for the periods of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or
about October 31, 2003, and each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters
ending thereafter, the ratio of:

             i.  EBITDA for each period of twelve consecutive months plus Rent
                 Expense for such period minus Capital Expenditures
                 during such period minus any cash paid for federal, state,
                 local and/or foreign income taxes during such period
                 minus any cash expenditures for purchase, redemptions or
                 retirement of any stock of any class of the Borrower or cash
                 dividends or any other cash distributions made on account of
                 any stock of any class of the Borrower during such period
                 (other than Permitted Redemptions);

                 to

             ii. the sum of Interest Charges for such period plus Rent Expenses
                 for such period plus scheduled principal payments on
                 Debt during such period.

         "Maturity Date" means July 1, 2004.

         "Permitted Redemptions" means repurchase and redemption of shares of
stock of PLI, provided that: (a) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and
continued at the time of such repurchase and redemption; (b) except as permitted
under (c) below, the number of repurchased and redeemed shares shall not exceed
the number of shares of PLI issued to employees and officers of PLI, and the
aggregate purchase price of all such shares repurchased or redeemed shall not
exceed $2,000,000 per fiscal year, and (c) aggregate purchase price of all
shares repurchased or redeemed may exceed $2,000,000 per fiscal year but shall
not exceed $3,500,000 in the aggregate after October 31, 2002, if (i) such
repurchase and redemption is conducted in accordance with the redemption program
approved by the Board of Directors of PLI; (ii) proceeds of the Advances
hereunder shall not be used to fund any of such repurchase and redemption; and
(iii) at the time of all such repurchases and redemptions, before and after
giving effect thereto PLI shall own assets consisting of cash, bank deposits,
certificates of deposit and other cash equivalent assets acceptable to the Agent
in amounts not less than $25,000,000.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

         2.2. CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. Section 6.18 of the Credit Agreement is
amended to read in its entirety as follows:

         Section 6.18. Capital Expenditures. Make Capital Expenditures during
any fiscal year, in an aggregate amount in excess of $10,000,000.

         2.3. CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE NET WORTH. Section 6.19 of the Credit
Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

         Section 6.19. Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. Permit its Consolidated
Tangible Net Worth at any time to be less than the sum of (a) $55,000,000, plus
(b) 90% of the aggregate amount of the consolidated net income of the Borrowers,
determined in accordance with GAAP, for each quarter ending on or after January
31, 2003, through the end of the most recently-ended fiscal quarter, without
giving effect to any net loss for any such fiscal quarter, and minus (c) the
amount of Permitted Redemptions actually made after October 31, 2002.

         2.4. DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO. Section 6.20 of the Credit Agreement
is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

         Section 6.20. Debt Service Coverage Ratio. Permit the Debt Service
Coverage Ratio, as of the end of each of the following periods, to be less than
the following amounts with respect to each such period:

         (a) 1.40 to 1.00 for the periods of four consecutive fiscal quarters
ending on or about January 31, 2003, and April 30, 2003;

         (b) 3.50 to 1.00 for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters
ending on or about July 31, 2003; and

         (c) 2.00 to 1.00 for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters
ending on or about October 31, 2003, and each period of four consecutive fiscal
quarters ending thereafter.

         SECTION 3. EFFECTIVENESS OF AMENDMENTS. The amendments contained in
this Amendment shall become effective upon delivery by each Borrower of, and
compliance by each Borrower with, the following:

         3.1. This Amendment duly executed by each Borrower.

         3.2. A Joinder Agreement whereby NetSchools becomes a Borrower under
the Credit Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, duly
executed by NetSchools (the "Joinder Agreement").

                                      -3-
<PAGE>


         3.3. Certified copies of all documents evidencing any necessary
corporate action, consent or governmental or regulatory approval (if any) with
respect to this Amendment.

         3.4. A good standing certificate for each Borrower from the State of
its incorporation issued not more than 10 days prior to the date of this
Amendment.

         3.5. The Borrowers shall have paid the Agent an upfront fee in the
amount of $12,500.

         3.6. The Borrowers shall have satisfied such other conditions as
specified by the Agent, including payment of all unpaid legal fees and expenses
incurred by the Agent through the date of this Amendment in connection with the
Credit Agreement and the Amendment Documents.

         SECTION 4. CONDITION SUBSEQUENT.

         4.1. Each of PLI, PI, CyberEd and TeachMaster agrees to deliver to the
Agent, and agrees that any failure to do so within 30 days of the date of this
Amendment, shall constitute an Event of Default under the Credit Agreement, a
copy of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of each Borrower authorizing
the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment certified as true and
accurate by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, along with a certification by
such Secretary or Assistant Secretary (i) certifying that there has been no
amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of such Borrower since
true and accurate copies of the same were delivered to the Agent with a
certificate of the Secretary of such Borrower dated December 19, 2001, and (ii)
identifying each officer of such Borrower authorized to execute this Amendment
and any other instrument or agreement executed by such Borrower in connection
with this Amendment (collectively, the "Amendment Documents"), and certifying as
to specimens of such officer's signature and such officer's incumbency in such
offices as such officer holds.

         4.2. NetSchools agrees to deliver the following documents to the Agent,
and agrees that any failure to do so within 30 days of this Amendment shall
constitute an Event of Default under the Credit Agreement.

         (a) A Security Agreement duly executed by NetSchools.

         (b) Current searches of appropriate filing offices showing that no
state or federal tax liens have been filed and remain in effect against
NetSchools, and that no financing statements or other notifications or filings
have been filed and remain in effect against NetSchools, other than those for
which the Agent has received an appropriate release, termination or satisfaction
or those permitted in accordance with Section 6.1.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

         (c) A copy of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of NetSchools
authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and the
Joinder Agreement certified as true and accurate by its Secretary or Assistant
Secretary, along with a certification by such Secretary or Assistant Secretary
(i) certifying that the attached copies of the Certificate of Incorporation or
Bylaws of NetSchools are true and accurate copies of the same, and (ii)
identifying each officer of NetSchools authorized to execute this Amendment, the
Joinder Agreement and the Amendment Documents, and certifying as to specimens of
such officer's signature and such officer's incumbency in such offices as such
officer holds.

         (d) Certificates of the insurance required under the Security
Agreement, naming the Agent, as collateral agent for all Banks, as loss payee
thereunder, together with an acceptable lender's loss payable endorsement.

         SECTION 5. DEFAULTS AND WAIVERS.

         5.1. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

         (a) Capital Expenditures. Under Section 6.18 of the Credit Agreement,
the Borrowers agreed not to make Capital Expenditures in an aggregate amount in
excess of $8,500,000 during the fiscal year ending on or about October 31, 2002.
The Borrowers have advised the Agent that, for the fiscal year ending on or
about October 31, 2002, it was not in compliance with this covenant.

         (b) Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. Under Section 6.19 of the Credit
Agreement, the Borrowers agreed not to permit its Consolidated Tangible Net
Worth at any time to be less than the sum of (a) $75,000,000, plus (b) 90% of
the aggregate amount of consolidated net income of the Borrowers, determined in
accordance with GAAP, for each quarter ending on or after January 31, 2002,
through the end of the most recently-ended fiscal quarter, without giving effect
to any net loss for any such fiscal quarter, and minus (c) the amount of
Permitted Redemptions actually made after the date of the Credit Agreement. The
Borrowers have advised the Agent that as of October 31, 2002 it was not in
compliance with this covenant.

         (c) Debt Service Coverage Ratio. Under Section 6.20 of the Credit
Agreement, the Borrowers agreed not to permit the Debt Service Coverage Ratio
for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters to be less than 2.00 to 1.00.
The Borrowers have advised the Agent that for the period of four consecutive
fiscal quarters ending on October 31, 2002, it was not in compliance with this
covenant.

         5.2. WAIVER. Upon the date on which this Amendment becomes effective,
the Agent hereby waives the Borrowers' Defaults and Events of Default described
in the preceding Sections 4.1(a) through 4.1(c) (the "Existing Defaults"). The
waiver of the Existing Defaults set forth above is limited to the express terms
thereof, and nothing herein shall be deemed a waiver by the Agent of any other
term, condition, representation or covenant applicable to each Borrower under
the Credit Agreement (including but not limited to any future occurrence similar
to the Existing Defaults) or any of the other agreements, documents or
instruments executed and delivered in connection therewith, or

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
of the covenants described therein. The waivers set forth herein shall not
constitute a waiver by the Agent of any other Default or Event of Default, if
any, under the Credit Agreement, and shall not be, and shall not be deemed to
be, a course of action with respect thereto upon with any Borrower may rely in
the future, and each Borrower hereby expressly waives any claim to such effect.

         SECTION 6. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, AUTHORITY, NO ADVERSE CLAIM.

         6.1. REASSERTION OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, NO DEFAULT. Each
Borrower hereby represents that on and as of the date hereof and after giving
effect to this Amendment (a) all of the representations and warranties contained
in the Credit Agreement are true, correct and complete in all respects as of the
date hereof as though made on and as of such date, except for changes permitted
by the terms of the Credit Agreement, and (b) there will exist no Default or
Event of Default under the Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment on such
date which has not been waived by the Agent.

         6.2. AUTHORITY, NO CONFLICT, NO CONSENT REQUIRED. Each Borrower
represents and warrants that such Borrower has the power and legal right and
authority to enter into the Amendment Documents and has duly authorized as
appropriate the execution and delivery of the Amendment Documents and other
agreements and documents executed and delivered by such Borrower in connection
herewith or therewith by proper corporate action, and none of the Amendment
Documents nor the agreements contained herein or therein contravenes or
constitutes a default under any agreement, instrument or indenture to which such
Borrower is a party or a signatory or a provision of such Borrower's Certificate
of Incorporation, Bylaws or any other agreement or requirement of law, or result
in the imposition of any lien on any of its property under any agreement binding
on or applicable to such Borrower or any of its property except, if any, in
favor of the Agent. Each Borrower represents and warrants that no consent,
approval or authorization of or registration or declaration with any Person,
including but not limited to any governmental authority, is required in
connection with the execution and delivery by such Borrower of the Amendment
Documents or other agreements and documents executed and delivered by the
Borrower in connection therewith or the performance of obligations of such
Borrower therein described, except for those which such Borrower has obtained or
provided and as to which such Borrower has delivered certified copies of
documents evidencing each such action to the Agent.

         6.3. NO ADVERSE CLAIM. Each Borrower warrants, acknowledges and agrees
that no events have been taken place and no circumstances exist at the date
hereof which would give such Borrower a basis to assert a defense, offset or
counterclaim to any claim of any Bank with respect to the Obligations.


                                      -6-
<PAGE>

         SECTION 7. AFFIRMATION OF CREDIT AGREEMENT, FURTHER REFERENCES,
AFFIRMATION OF SECURITY INTEREST. Each Bank and each Borrower acknowledges and
affirms that the Credit Agreement, as hereby amended, is hereby ratified and
confirmed in all respects and all terms, conditions and provisions of the Credit
Agreement, except as amended by this Amendment, shall remain unmodified and in
full force and effect. All references in any document or instrument to the
Credit Agreement are hereby amended and shall refer to the Credit Agreement as
amended by this Amendment. Each Borrower confirms to the Banks that the
Obligations are and continue to be secured by the security interest granted by
each Borrower in favor of the Banks under the Security Agreements dated as of
December 20, 2001, and all of the terms, conditions, provisions, agreements,
requirements, promises, obligations, duties, covenants and representations of
each Borrower under such documents and any and all other documents and
agreements entered into with respect to the obligations under the Credit
Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and are hereby ratified and
affirmed in all respects by each Borrower.

         SECTION 8. MERGER AND INTEGRATION, SUPERSEDING EFFECT. This Amendment,
from and after the date hereof, embodies the entire agreement and understanding
between the parties hereto and supersedes and has merged into this Amendment all
prior oral and written agreements on the same subjects by and between the
parties hereto with the effect that this Amendment shall control with respect to
the specific subjects hereof and thereof.

         SECTION 9. SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision of this
Amendment and the other Amendment Documents and any other statement, instrument
or transaction contemplated hereby or thereby or relating hereto or thereto
shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective, valid and enforceable
under the applicable law of any jurisdiction, but, if any provision of this
Amendment, the other Amendment Documents or any other statement, instrument or
transaction contemplated hereby or thereby or relating hereto or thereto shall
be held to be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable under the applicable law,
such provision shall be ineffective in such jurisdiction only to the extent of
such prohibition, invalidity or unenforceability, without invalidating or
rendering unenforceable the remainder of such provision or the remaining
provisions of this Amendment, the other Amendment Documents or any other
statement, instrument or transaction contemplated hereby or thereby or relating
hereto or thereto in such jurisdiction, or affecting the effectiveness, validity
or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

         SECTION 10. SUCCESSORS. The Amendment Documents shall be binding upon
each Borrower and each Bank and their respective successors and assigns, and
shall inure to the benefit of each Borrower and each Bank and the successors and
assigns of each Bank.

         SECTION 11. LEGAL EXPENSES. As provided in Section 9.4 of the Credit
Agreement, the Borrowers jointly and severally agree to reimburse the Agent,
upon execution of this Amendment, for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
(including attorney' fees and legal expenses of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, counsel
for the Agent) incurred in connection with the Credit Agreement, including in
connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of the Amendment
Documents and all other documents negotiated, prepared and executed in
connection with the Amendment Documents, and in enforcing the obligations of
each Borrower under the Amendment Documents, and to pay and save the Banks
harmless from all liability for, any stamp or other taxes which may be payable
with respect to the execution or delivery of the Amendment Documents, which
obligations of each Borrower shall survive any termination of the Credit
Agreement.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

         SECTION 12. HEADINGS. The headings of various sections of this
Amendment have been inserted for reference only and shall not be deemed to be a
part of this Amendment.

         SECTION 13. COUNTERPARTS. The Amendment Documents may be executed in
several counterparts as deemed necessary or convenient, each of which, when so
executed, shall be deemed an original, provided that all such counterparts shall
be regarded as one and the same document, and either party to the Amendment
Documents may execute any such agreement by executing a counterpart of such
agreement.

         SECTION 14. GOVERNING LAW. THE AMENDMENT DOCUMENTS SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, EXCEPT
TO THE EXTENT THE LAW OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION APPLIES AS TO THE PERFECTION OR
ENFORCEMENT OF ANY SECURITY INTEREST IN ANY COLLATERAL AND EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT
EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO THE CONTRARY IN ANY AMENDMENT DOCUMENT.

                  [Remainder of page intentionally left blank]



                                      -8-
<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Amendment to be executed as of the date and year first above written.



                    PLATO LEARNING, INC.


                    By:  ______________________________
                    Title: _____________________________

                    PLATO, INC.


                    By:  ______________________________
                    Title: _____________________________


                    CYBERED, INC.


                    By:  ______________________________
                    Title: _____________________________

                    TEACHMASTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


                    By:  ______________________________
                    Title: _____________________________

                    NETSCHOOLS CORPORATION


                    By:  ______________________________
                    Title: _____________________________


                    WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                    as Bank and as Agent


                    By:  _______________________________
                    Title: ______________________________




                                      S-1