Andragogy

Andragogy (pronounced: an-dra-go-gy, from the Greek words andr- meaning "man", and -agogus meaning "leader") is a theory that focuses on the methods and principles used in adult education. The term was first used by Alexander Kapp, a German educator, in 1833. It was later popularized in the United States by Malcolm Knowles, an American educator, who suggested that adults learn differently than children, and thus require different methods of instruction.

Definition

Andragogy is defined as the art and science of helping adults learn. It is based on a set of core assumptions about why and how adults learn, and provides a framework for designing and conducting learning activities for adults.

Principles

The principles of andragogy are based on six assumptions about adult learners:

1. Self-concept: As a person matures, he or she moves from being a dependent personality toward being a self-directed human being.
2. Experience: Adults have a reservoir of experiences that can be used as a basis for learning.
3. Readiness to learn: Adults are ready to learn when they experience a need to know or do something in order to perform more effectively in some aspect of their lives.
4. Orientation to learning: Adults are motivated to learn to the extent that they perceive that learning will help them perform tasks or deal with problems that they confront in their life situations.
5. Motivation to learn: Adults are responsive to some external motivators, but the most potent motivators are internal.
6. Need to know: Adults need to know why they need to learn something before undertaking to learn it.

Applications

Andragogy has been applied in various contexts, including:

1. Continuing education: Andragogy is often used in continuing education programs, where adults are seeking to acquire new skills or knowledge.
2. Workplace learning: Many businesses and organizations use andragogic principles to train and develop their employees.
3. Distance education: Online and distance education programs often use andragogic principles to design their courses and learning activities.

Criticisms

While andragogy has been widely accepted in the field of adult education, it has also been subject to criticism. Some critics argue that the assumptions of andragogy are not universally applicable to all adults, and that different adults may have different learning styles and preferences.

See also

• Pedagogy
• Heutagogy
• Transformative learning
• Experiential learning

References

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