Process Essay: New Perspectives On Andragogy

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Individual Essay: New Perspectives on Andragogy

Learning and teaching theorists have made many important discoveries related to adult learning. Two of these discoveries include the ideas that adults have the ability to learn over a lifetime and adults learn differently than children. Through these discoveries, the field of andragogy was born. As Malcolm Knowles advanced the idea of andragogy throughout the United States, he described six assumptions that are key to the andragogical model of teaching and learning. These assumptions include: the need to know, self-concept, prior experience, readiness to learn, learning orientation, and motivation to learn. The six assumptions of adult learning learning has made an impact upon the teaching styles of adult educators and the learning of adult students. As an adult learner, I am currently impacted by these discoveries as well.
I experience a tremendous amount of demands on my time as an elementary school principal. Thus, I have to prioritize what is important and what can be let go. In the first assumption of the andragogical model, “the need to know”, Knowles, Holton and Swanson …show more content…

This is an opportunity I plan to enjoy for the duration of my educational career. However, this experience could be short-lived as I have two and a half years to earn my administrative credentials. If I do not earn the credentials within that time frame, I will no longer be able to retain my current position. Knowles et al. (2015) describe the sixth level andragogical model assumption of motivation as “Adults are responsive to some external motivators, but the most potent motivators are internal pressures” (p. 47). As an adult I find that my personality is geared to both the internal and external motivators of retaining my job. I am open to the learning provided through my graduate coursework, as it will provide the opportunity to stay in the job that I

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