Andragogy, a term that is synonymous with Adult Learning was popularized in the field of Education by Malcolm Knowles. He considered Andragogy to be essential for the success of adult learners (Pappas, 2013) and felt it was a field that needed to be investigated more. Andragogy is considered to be equivalent to Pedagogy, which is the art, science, and profession of teaching and usually associated with children (Anonymous, 2021). Knowles identified four principles that can be applied to adult learning (Pappas, 2013):
· Adults need to be involved in the planning and evaluation of their instruction.
· Experience (including mistakes) provides the basis for the learning activities.
· Adults are most interested in learning subjects that have immediate relevance
· Adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-oriented
Andragogy, as a field of study, is drastically different when compared to pedagogy, as adults tend to be more self-sufficient and self-directed in their own learning processes. Adult learners are typically driven by internal rather than external motives (Gutierrez, 2021). Programs that address adult learning (andragogy), must accommodate this fundamental difference when compared to programs directed at children (Culatta, 2018). The fundamental idea of Andragogy is simple enough, but the question is, can we improve upon the process with the advancements in technology in today’s academic world?
Digital learning technologies continue to evolve, impacting all contexts of learning for adults, including the formal, informal, and non-formal situations (Bliss, 2019). With the advancement of technology over the past few decades, information is accessible to almost anyone who has a multitude of devices. This has made it much easier and convenient to find something or to look something up. But what separates an adult learner from a child learner?
Today’s adult learner is a Self-Directed Learner, one that seeks out information and often happens out of fun (Candy, 2004). New communication technologies (cell phone, laptops, tablets, etc.) have far exceeded the traditional means of learning since their introduction into society (Bliss, 2019). Having access to information is only half of the issue of learning, being able to parse through the information and determine what is relevant and useful is the key fact.
As access to information has increased, new skills such as Digital Literacy, Science Literacy, and Information Literacy are needed to help the learning adult become the facilitator of their own learning (Bliss, 2019). Adult learners need to be able to facilitate their own progress and control how they interpret information, use their experiences to direct their learning, and apply what they learn to problem solving.
This can be done through various means including establishing personal goals, creating actions plans, and sharing those plans with others (Carla89, 2021). We need to provide choices in the way we present information and apply it to real world problems or situations. Using Knowles’ principles of Andragogy can assist us helping the adult learner become successful in their academic journey.
Anonymous. (2021, October 20). Pedagogy in Education: More Than Just a Buzzword. Powerschool.com. Retrieved July 25, 2022, from https://www.powerschool.com/blog/pedagogy-in-education-more-than-just-a-buzzword/
Bliss, A. C. (2019). Adult Science-Based Learning: The Intersection of Digital, Science, and Information Literacies. Adult Learning, 30(3), 128–137. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159519829042
Candy, P. C. (2004). Linking thinking: Self-directed learning in the digital age. Canberra,, Australia: Department of Education, Science and Training.
carla89. (2021, August 1). Carla's techy campus. Retrieved July 25, 2022, from https://carlastechycampus.com/improving-andragogy-of-educational-technology-training-for-adult-learning/
Culatta, R. (2018, November 30). Andragogy (Malcolm Knowles). InstructionalDesign.org. Retrieved July 25, 2022, from https://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/andragogy/
Gutierrez, K. (2021). Adult learning theories every instructional designer must know - shift E. learning. Retrieved July 25, 2022, from https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/adult-learning-theories-instructional-design
Pappas, C. (2013, May 9). The adult learning theory - andragogy - of Malcolm Knowles. eLearning Industry. Retrieved July 25, 2022, from https://elearningindustry.com/the-adult-learning-theory-andragogy-of-malcolm-knowles
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