Andragogy’s Impact on Educational Philosophy and Instructional Strategies
Since its appearance on the U.S. education radar screen 40 years ago, andragogy has challenged the design and execution of adult 24 educations. It emphasizes the need for the adaptation of long held education theories to meet adult-specific learning needs (Knowles, 1990). Andragogy has prompted scholars and practitioners alike to question the assumption that a pedagogical approach is appropriate in every learning situation. It has also called into question how education is delivered to students.
As Hadley (1975) stated, “ a pedagogical approach to learning stresses systematic procedures designed and implemented by a teacher who sees control as essential for effective learning” (p. 122-123). Similarly Kerwin (1975) stated, “pedagogically-oriented learning is primarily concerned with transmitting what is known, does not involve the learners in the design and operation of
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Their participation can begin with the needs assessment process where group members establish the programme goals and objectives. It is a widely held belief that people will make firm commitments to activities in which they feel they participated and contributed to the planning.
Training materials and lesson plan design should schedule time for student contribution to the discussion at hand. Relevancy and grounding concepts into one=s own experience comes from hearing others discuss similar experiences, providing your own experience, having the opportunity to discuss the implications of some concept on the job that they currently perform, and in making the conceptual link between the point being made and experience and application to the learners needs. (Dirkx, J.M., and Prenger, S.M. (1997).
Diagnosis of Learning
The civil war created massive Industrial and economic boom, by the 1870s in conjunction with the surge in immigration of 1890s. Up to the 1900’s the United States was primarily agrarian really only concerned with settling the land that had come under its control. Disputes were primarily internal and the largest part of its immigrant population came from northwestern Europe for the purpose of farming. However, the Industrial Revolution has now really been to take hold in of the US. As the US begins to exploit its natural resources it could now complete in the world markets against the great industrial powers of Europe
We can see from Knowles (1983) identified six assumptions about adult learning, our students in a military environment and in the “third age” meet most if not all of these criteria. If this is true of our military learners then as delivers we need to be aware of the “Charter for Andragogy “ Mezirow (1981) which set out what we teachers of adults need to be aware of to teach our learners.
I focus on students’ needs and strongly believe in maintaining educational transparency (FT1: Statement of teaching philosophy). So, I try to know who my students are and what are their needs and motives. Learning motives of adults and children are different. For instance, children are considered as dependent learners, whereas adults are relatively independent. I teach mature students between the age of 20 and 60 (TPA2) who want to become either business entrepreneurs or business executives. Having considered their age range and objectives I decided to emphasise on andragogy, rather than pedagogy. Andragogy is meant for helping adults learning where a tutor designing a course should consider students’ self-directedness in learning and their previous experience, whereas pedagogy is meant for dependent students where a little validity is
The six principles of andragogy should be applied to how the curriculum for adult learning is created. Providing lessons that adults enjoy and can relate to is what will draw in students to the class. Also, it will be very beneficial to not only the adults, but the school as well. A study by a private liberal arts college was held and using a pre test-post test-control-group design, andragogy was tested against traditional instruction type teaching. After conducting the research it was concluded that there was no significant differences between the two different types of teaching.
Today's workers need to prepare with continuous job training, growth and development. Given the increased age, experiences and diverse lifestyles of the working population, it is understandable that adult education practices must move beyond the traditional model of teachers and learners, while new skills, working with local companies to match their needs and sending staff into factories and other workplaces to spread the word about state and federal retraining assistance. While trying to decide how to rebuild your life after loss of employment and lack of job opportunities following the current recession, or devastated from a divorce? Adult students faced with other struggles; studies have shown that older adult students face different hurdles, family problems, and poor self-image. These along with poor time management, weaker academic preparation and a need for remediation an increased focus on adult learners and their needs can help. (armour)
The Battle of Somme took place during World War I in Picardy, France from 1 July to 18 November 1916. It was planned to be the final major battle of World War I in which a win for either the German Empire or the British and French forces would prove a decisive victory in the overall war and a means to end the war (Battle of the Somme). However, with the Battle of Verdun consequentially taking place, the Battle of Somme turn into one of attrition with no decisive outcome.
ADULT LEARNING THEORY 2 Adult Learning Theory Malcolm Knowles Malcolm Knowles (1913-1997) was a key figure in America’s adult education in the second half of the twentieth century (Smith, 2002). Early Life “Born in 1913 and initially raised in Montana,” Knowles seems to have had “a reasonably happy childhood. His father was a veterinarian and from around the age of four Knowles often accompanied him on his visits to farms and ranches” (Smith, 2002, para. 2). His mother also played a critical role in his character building. During his campaign for the scouting prize, he developed a technique that would help him compete successfully (Smith, 2002), which he always thanked his mother for. In 1930, He entered Harvard University with
The world of adult learning was changed by Knowles’ (1973) when he identified four assumptions about andragogy, meaning “the art and science of helping adults learn” (Knowles, 1970, p. 42). These assumptions are: self-concept; experience; readiness; and orientation. Knowles later added two more assumptions; the critical need to know, and motivation (Knowles, Holton & Swanson, 2015; Knowles, 1980). Knowles’ second assumption, experience, plays a significant role for individuals to create, retain and transfer knowledge based upon prior knowledge and skill, (Argote, McEvily & Reagans, 2003, p. 575). I will search for evidence on how the elements of Knowles’ theory align with the knowledge retention and engagement.
Knowles, M. S. (1980). The modern practice of adult education from pedagogy to andragogy. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Cambridge Adult Education.
"Education is life--not a mere preparation for an unknown kind of future living…The whole of life is learning; therefore, education can have no ending. This new venture is called adult education--not because it is confined to adults but because adulthood, maturity defines its limits." (Lindeman, E.1926p.6)
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:
Three main theories of education exist: behavioral, constructivist, and cognitive. I find myself ideologically aligned most closely with the constructivist approach, yet for reasons to be explored later in this document, find the theory one that can only offer guidance for my actions as a teacher a portion of the time I am working with students. Constructivism means students don’t just absorb information and understand
A few staff members, a security guard and a single student were the only ones to make it out of the explosion alive. The one student who lived evidently ran into the forest behind the high school building due to the fact that she was no longer around. That was why Elizabeth was called in along with the rest of her detective squad to help search for the girl in the now growing afternoon.