Andragogy consists of learning strategies focused on adults. It is often interpreted as the process of engaging adult learners with the structure of learning experience. Originally used by Alexander Kapp (a German educator) in 1833, andragogy was developed into a theory of adult education by the American educator Malcolm Knowles.

Knowles asserted that andragogy (Greek: "man-leading") should be distinguished from the more commonly used pedagogy (Greek: "child-leading").

Knowles' theory can be stated with six assumptions related to motivation of adult learning:^[1][2]

1. Adults need to know the reason for learning something (Need to Know)
2. Experience (including error) provides the basis for learning activities (Foundation).
3. Adults need to be responsible for their decisions on education; involvement in the planning and evaluation of their instruction (Self-concept).
4. Adults are most interested in learning subjects having immediate relevance to their work and/or personal lives (Readiness).
5. Adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-oriented (Orientation).
6. Adults respond better to internal versus external motivators (Motivation).

The term has been used by some to allow discussion of contrast between self-directed and 'taught' education.^[3]

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• Knowles, Malcolm; Holton, E. F., III; Swanson, R. A. (2005). The adult learner: The definitive classic in adult education and human resource development (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Elsevier. http://books.google.com/books?id=J6qGsHBj7nQC. 
• Thorpe, Mary; Edwards, Richard; Hanson, Ann (1993). Culture and processes of adult learning. Routledge. http://books.google.com/books?id=l9EOAAAAQAAJ. 
• Smith, M. K. (1996; 1999) 'Andragogy', in the Encyclopaedia of Informal Education.
• Roberts, Michael (2007). "Applying the Andragogical Model of Adult Learning: A Case Study of the Texas Comptroller's Fiscal Management Division". Applied Research Project. Texas State University. http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/209/. 

[edit] External links

• American Society of Training and Development
• National Association of State Judicial Educators
• Moving From Pedagogy To Andragogy

[edit] See also

• Adult education
• Andragogical learning theory
• The Learning Plan and the ePortfolio are emerging as important tools that adults can use to manage their own learning.
• Motivation
• Situated learning a model of learning often associated with adult learners.
• heutagogy

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