Andragogy: The Cornerstone of Adult Education Essay

This paper is a research on Malcolm Knowles topic “andragogy”. Knowles describes andragogy as the art and science of adult learning. Andragogy focuses on special needs od adults learners, he classifies these need into six different categories: (1) need to know, (2) self- concept, (3) prior experience, (4) readiness to learn, (5) learning orientation, and (6) motivation to learn.

The five suspicions of andragogy are that grown-ups are self-coordinated learners, grown-up learners convey an abundance of experience to the instructive setting, grown-ups enter instructive settings prepared to learn, grown-ups are issue focused in their learning, and grown-ups are best spurred by inward components

Pedagogy is defined as the art and science of educating children (Bethel University, 2013). Andragogy is defined as the art and science of helping adults learn (Bethel University, 2013). There are similarities of both Pedagogy and Andragogy. Both are ways of teaching and educating people. A difference between the two is Pedagogy is a teacher focused education system where the teacher tells the student what, how and when materials will be learned, whereas Andragogy is a learner based system where the student has more control over when and how materials are learned(Bethel University, 2013). Pedagogy is geared more toward the teaching of children, and Andragogy is a method of learning used by adults. In my opinion the pedagogical style of learning is a traditional classroom setting where students are taught by a teacher

Andragogy and pedagogy share similarities,but they both have different learning methods. Pedagogy is basically teaching children from a face to face perspective, with this method children are usually taught what to learn. On the other hand, adults have more self-direction on what and how to learn with the andragogy method. Adult learners will inquire about why they have to learn something, while children are taught what to learn. I believe motivation has a huge influence on the way an adolescence learns, things such as, incentives, good grades, making their parents proud. Those are all factors that will have an affect on children wanting to learn. Adults are more goal oriented, they are more like a self-motivator. While learning they feed off self-esteem, confidence, self-development and being recognized. The desire for success will motivate most adult learners to learn more. So I feel that andragogy learning method is more effective and that most children will transition to that method

Andragogy is the study of the art and science of how adults learn (Reischmann, 2000). The military is comprised of adults that must be constantly trained to the highest of proficiencies in combat and non-combat supporting roles. In the military, the personnel responsible for conducting training are noncommissioned officers, which are soldiers between the ranks of corporal and sergeant major. Noncommissioned officers must know their soldiers and be able to train them to the high levels of efficiency required to successfully conduct their missions. Noncommissioned officers must practice and use andragogy regularly to continue training junior soldiers.

Knowles, M. S. (1980). The modern practice of adult education from pedagogy to andragogy. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Cambridge Adult Education.

Learning is a universal language, spoken by all and mastered by many. However, just as world languages vary in complexity, elements and uniqueness, learning theories are vastly diverse. The adult learning theory, also known as androgogy, demonstrates the unique and complex way that adults learn. The theory “reaches a worldwide audience” (Henschke, 2011), as the growing presence of adults on college campuses indicates these learners are no longer viewed as “non-traditional” (Ross-Gordon, 2011), but rather are becoming more of the norm in the undergraduate student body. Recent social and economic forces have greatly

Pedagogy is in the field of educating children and Andragogy is in the field of helping adults learn that is just one of the similarities. Andragogy is in the field of teaching or educating people of all ages and Pedagogy is in the field of educating children and thats quite a similarity there. The differences are that with Pedagogy teachers are responsible for the learning and with Andragogy the adults learn on their own, they have their own motivation to learn. They learn on their own with Andragogy and with Pedagogy they have to be taught. It's all tied together with lifelong learning, just wanting and having the ability to learn. That's why I'm taking online classes so i can have the ability to learn. Everyday is a learning experience but at least in college you get a degree and more knowledge then if you didn't go to college.

As an educator, it is my role to teach as well as learn. The role of a teacher allows me to experience both Andragogy and Pedagogy. “Andragogy” is “the art and science of helping adults learn "where as “Pedagogy is the art and science of teaching children” (Knowles, 1984, p. 13). In my profession, it is a daily task to teach concepts to children. Children are generally, teacher directed learners meaning, they are always looking to the teacher to guide them in their learning. They seek out answers and need direction to what they will be learning and what activities are provided to solidify the learning concept. This is quite different than the self directed, or the adult learner. According to Caruso (2011), adults learn by performing

Andragogy recognises that adults demand to learn things that are relevant to them, and relevant to their life experiences rather than assuming they know nothing (Atherton, 2005). Hence as time progressed ‘A’ became less dependant on me and was able to self direct his learning , in turn increasing his confidence and enhancing his community experience by spending time with other disciplines to enable him to achieve the university set competences.

My impression of adult education has changed immensely. First and foremost, the first lesson learned that teaching adults are a separate, intensive, and long debated process. Portions of certain theories learned illustrated below. I have extended knowledge about Meizrow (Transformational Learning) and Knowles (Andragogy). The six key features of Adult Learners are:

Delpit gave an example which showed that with some guidance students can construct their own knowledge in a way that they understand and teachers can use this understanding to plan new activities. This example shows exactly how teachers acting as guides, who foster thinking, are beneficial in the learning process for students.

There are different theories that have been applied to understand and help adults learn more effectively. Andragogy and experiential learning are being discussed individually in this paper to capture the essence of each theory in being practiced and applied. Once an understanding is obtained, I will then evaluate and try to apply these theories to my own life to help get the most out of the time I have and college and the rest of my life.

Pedagogy focuses on educating children. In pedagogy, teachers decide what will be learned, how it will be learned, and why it is important that it be learned. Teachers are in charge of the learning process. This is a more controlled learning environment, making it more effective in children than in adults. A controlled learning environment can cause resentment and cause the learner to not want to learn because they can't learn on a level that is comfortable and effective for them. Andragogy was first only focused on helping adult learners. One belief listed in the adragogic model is that learners won't learn until they are ready and motivated by overcoming restrictions such as behaviors, beliefs, and learning. Andragogy is embraced by Bethel University and its professors. Besides learning being the focus of both styles, there aren't many

Pedagogy is how kids learn and andragogy is how adults learn. In today world not so much. With me taking online classes that is andragogy, but I have gone to other schools and I was learning in the pedagogy format. Also kids to have started home schooling online by themselves so that would be andragogy. So both of them are very different but the same. So to me pedagogy is learning around teacher based. This means the teacher is the center of attention and then the children or adults, the learners, come second. The teacher decides how, what, and when something will be learned. Andragogy to me is learning around the learner based. This means I am the center of attention, or who ever is learning. With andragogy learning you learn when you want to learn. So to me they are so similar but so different. The only way I see they are similar is they are both a way of teaching and they can go towards adults and kids either way. I think the difference though is as adults we can learn better with andragogy, because we have the experinces and the