LITERATURE REVIEW ON ANDRAGOGY

 

 

 

  Andragogy

Frances E. Robinson

09/14/2014

 

  Abstract

 

In order to get an understanding of Andragogy, it is important to know the definition of Andragogy. In this paper I will share the Principles, Methods, and Skills of Andragogy. I will also include:

1. Some history on Andragogy

2. Malcome Knowles theory on Andragogy

3. A university who teaching methods includes Andragogy

4. A philosopher who did not agree with Andragogy

 

     Andragogy was brought about by Alexander Kapp who was a German high school teacher. Kapp contends that education, self-reflection, and educating the character are the first values in human life. He measured vocational education as the healing profession, soldier, educator, orator, ruler, and men as the family father. This showed a pattern that repeated in an ongoing of history of andragogy. In was the comprised of education to be inner. The personality was the outer. This was a combination of self -reflection and life experience which made it more than teaching adults. (Beginnings of the History and Philosophy of Andragogy)

     After the loss of War in 1918, in the 1920’s another person by the name of Rosenstock-Huessy modeled andragogy as the method for German people. He recommended in order for adult education to achieve anything it must proceed on from the suffering of loss of war. He considered the history of pass failure not be repeated and move past becomes an action to move toward the future. The theory of andragogy becomes practical deed. Andragogy becomes a better educational method identified as a necessity. (Beginnings of the History and Philosophy of Andragogy)

     There was another person called Lindeman from the USA who traveled to Germany and was involved in the Workers Education Movement. He was the first to bring the concept of Andragogy to America. He concluded that teaching adults was different than teaching children. He wrote a book called “The Meaning of Adult Education” that he extensively explores, describes and explains the discussion method. Consequently, it seems safe to assume that he laid the earliest groundwork in the USA for a major practical application of andragogy as the method for teaching adults. In addition, Anderson and Lindeman (1927) reiterated the concept as it was brought to the new land of America. (Beginnings of the History and Philosophy of Andragogy)

     Another time came where Simpson who was in Great Britain suggested andragogy as identifying a body of knowledge applicable to the training those concerned with Adult Education. He viewed it as what already existed in child education. There were four main strands which were the study of adult education, the study of adults, educational psychology of adults, and generalized andragogical methods for teaching adults. He recommended adult education to use the main stages method. (Beginnings of the History and Philosophy of Andragogy)

     Malcolm Knows presented his first iteration of Andragogy in 1968. He defines andragogy as a “is a theory based on the psychological definition of adult, which states that people become adults psychologically when they arrive at a self-concept of being responsible for their own lives, of being self-directing.” There is six assumptions that underline andragogy.

               1) Self- concept consist of the adult learner becoming more self- directed and ndependent.    They are a responsible person and principle performer.

               2) Experience is when an adult learners comes with a wealth of life experiences to share in the learning of a particular subject. This includes social, occupational, and family.

               3) Readiness to learn which depends on the adult learners need. The adult learner has the desire to aim for accomplishment and specific educational need.

               4) Problem centered focus which the adult learner seeks opportunities to learn to problem solve. Involves the adult learner to have a systematic learning of objectives, methods, means of learning, and evaluation of results of learning.

               5) Internal motivation is when the adult learner pursue opportunities to due external. The education becomes an importance to individual and must deal with everyday factors of life. 

               6) Adults leaners to have the need to know why they need to learn something will benefit them. www.eadulteducation.org/adult-learning/malcolm-Knowles

     Malcolm Knowles knows that adult learners are able to contribute knowledge to the class discussion based on life experience. Which is a valuable resource for learning from each other.

 

Andragogy and Self-Directed Learning 1975-1981

      In 1975 Knowles labeled pedagogical as teacher directed. He labeled andragogy as Self-Directed. At earlier stages, pedagogy was known for children and andragogy was for adults. He had nine competencies for Self -Directed Learner which were the following:

               1. An understanding of the differences in assumptions about learners and the skills required for learning under teacher-directed learning and self-directed learning, and the ability to explain these differences to others.

               2. A concept of [the learner] myself (sic) as being a non-dependent and a self-directing person.

               3. The ability to relate to peers collaboratively, to see them as resources for diagnosing needs, planning [the learner's] my (sic) learning, and learning; and to give help to them and receive help from them.

               4. The ability to diagnose my own learning needs realistically, with help from teachers and peers.

               5. The ability to translate learning needs into learning objectives in a form that makes it possible for their accomplishment to be assessed.

               6. The ability to relate to teachers as facilitators, helpers, or consultants, and to take the initiative in making use of their resources.

               7. The ability to identify human and material resources appropriate to different kinds of learning objectives.

                8. The ability to select effective strategies for making use oflearning resources and to perform these strategies skillfully and with initiative.

                9. The ability to collect and validate evidence of the accomplishment of various kinds of learning objectives. (Beginnings of the History and Philosophy of Andragogy)

     In 1978 Knowles added an applications of andragogy and continued to be involved with adult education and education information based on current situations. There were several more philosophers who had input on andragogy. One to mention was Ingalls using andragogy in corporate setting. He identified nine dimensions than the manager need to help his workers keep up to date on various fields. Those consist of the following:

                 1. Creating a social climate in which subordinates feel respected.

                 2. Treating mistakes as opportunities for learning and growth.

                 3. Helping subordinates discover what they need to learn.

                 4. Assisting the staff to extract learning from practical work situations and experiences.

                 5. Letting staff members take responsibility for designing and carrying out their own learning experiences.

                 6. Engaging staff members in self-appraisal and personal planning for performance improvement.

                 7. Permitting or encouraging innovation and experiments to change the accepted way o of doing things if the plan proposed appears possible.

                 8. Being aware of the developmental tasks and readiness-to-learn issues that concern his staff.

                 9. Trying to implement a joint problem-finding and problem-solving strategy to involve his staff in dealing with day-to-day problems and longer-range issues. (Beginnings of the History and Philosophy of Andragogy)

     In 1997 Conner referred andragogy as learner focused education for people. She viewed the implication of teacher centered to learner centered as staggering. It will slow down the ability to learn new technology and competitiveness. She also disagreed with the notion of andragogy is a major focus of understanding and adjusting our circumstances we face in the world on a daily basis. She believe we must unlearn our teacher –reliance in order to succeed. (Beginnings of the History and Philosophy of Andragogy)
     An Indianapolis school who applies andragogy is Martin University. The university was founded in 1977 by the President Father Boniface Hardin. It is a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI).The University appealed to adult learners by a learning method called andragogy. Father Hardin at one time stated “Teaching as most people know it is done pedagogical. Cut your head open, pour it in, and close it up. That’s not the way we do it. Andragogy involves the adult learner in their own instruction. A lot of people who come into our school have knowledge inside of them. They have experience, and sometimes they have more experience than their teacher. In that case, the teacher becomes the co-learner.” The mission at Martin University is to serve low-income, minorities, and adult learners right from the beginning and he university does it in a healing and freedom-minded environment. Father Hardin served the school as President for over 30 years. He retired 2007 and deceased some years later. (blackinformant.wordpress.com/2007/01/06/father-boniface...)
     Overall, there has been many philosophers and universities who utilize andragogy style in their teaching method. There has also been a long history and research for andragogy learning. There is a great deal of persons who agree with it and some who don’t. I believe it’s an awesome learning tool to use in the adult education.

Summary of literature review on Andragogy

The main themes /ideas	Application of the main ideas in practice
Idea 1. History of Andragogy	There is a long history of andragogy that has been research and used by several philosophers.
Idea 2. Malcome Knowles	Knowles is the best known philosopher to use andragogy.
Idea 3. Philosophers who did not agree with andragogy	Conner believe that andragogy was not teaching method of her choice.
Idea 4. A University who uses andragogy teaching method	Martin University was founded on the teaching methods of andragogy.

  References

Malcolm Knowles and the Six Assumptions Underlying Andragogy.

www.eadulteducation.org/adult-learning/malcolm-knowles

              Father Boniface Hardin and Martin University | Blackinformant ...

              blackinformant.wordpress.com/2007/01/06/father-boniface...  

              Henschke, J. A. "Beginnings oftIle History and Philosophy of ...

              ww.umsl.edu/~henschkej/...02.../2.pdf