Andragogy Reflection Paper

1791 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of reflective practice

Within the andragogical model described by Knowles, Holton, and Swanson (2015), adults need learning experiences that are different than those found in the pedagogical model. Instead of waiting for experiences that are directed and controlled by a teacher, adults need to have a clear rationale and understanding for the learning, feel past experiences are valuable, and have a developed internal system for motivation in order to help a learning experience be successful. The connection and orientation to the learning task, the readiness to learn, and self-concept are other important ideas to adult learning.
While focusing on andragogy, the connection of my personal learning experiences with the six assumptions of the andragogical model has helped …show more content…

The ideas established within the andragogical model offer suggestions and focus points to support the development of engaging and meaningful learning experiences for adults. In order to connect the andragogical assumptions with my reflections and further my thinking on professional development, I will first outline my memories and thoughts on each of the andragogical assumptions. Then, using my learning experiences as a guide, I will discuss how the professional learning opportunities at my school will change as a result of new understandings of adult …show more content…

“Adults are motivated to learn to the extent that they perceive that learning will help them perform tasks or deal with problems they confront in their life situations” (Knowles et al., 2015). When I began my graduate course work at Northern Michigan University, I had not ever participated in an online course. Since NMU’s online course format utilizes NMU EduCat, I needed to learn the process and tasks associated with the website’s navigation and tools in order to be able to successfully complete course requirements and interact with other class participants. I was hesitant and anxious about my ability to learn the EduCat features, but the EduCat tutorial course offered step-by-step directions with information, activities, and assessments that enabled me to learn the necessary information. I was able to use my new knowledge immediately to fulfill the requirements of my courses. This direct application to my current reality as an online graduate student allowed for my new knowledge on the EduCat processes to easily become ingrained as part of my daily task

Show More
Related

  • What Is Diabetes Education?

    677 Words  | 2 Pages

    Adults are self-motivated. They learn best by building on what they already know and when they are actively engaged (Lindeman, 2010). The approach of adult education revolves around non-vocational ideals and is based on experience rather than subjects (Lindeman, 2010). It helps adults gain knowledge about their powers, capacities, and limitations (Funnell et al, 2012).

    Read More

  • engaging adult learners

    2139 Words  | 5 Pages

    Adult learning has been studied by numerous philosophers and psychologists for years. Up until the 1970’s most of the theories of adult learning derived from psychology. One of the most important people to study Adult Education is, “James Robbins Kidd”. James Robbins Kidd published over 20 books and at least one thousand articles, reports, and papers. But of all his books, the one that was particularly important is, “How Adults Learn” which was published in 1959. It was later revised in 1973 and became a standard in the field.

    Read More

  • What is Andragogy? Malcom Knowles

    2289 Words  | 5 Pages

    What is andragogy? Andragogy consists of a theoretical model of six assumptions that was developed by Malcolm Knowles in order to “distinguish adult learning and adult education from other areas of education” (Mirriam, Caffarella, & Baumgartner, 2007, p. 83). And so, andragogy might also be defined in terms of the efforts of “multiple researchers and scholars” (Henschke, 2011, p. 35) searching for a way to “establish andragogy as a proven theory and strong method for teaching adults” (Henschke, 2011, p. 35). But why is the topic of andragogy important for both adult learners and teachers? It is important because in order to effectively teach adult learners we must first “be cognizant of the differences which adult students bring to the classroom” (Schultz, 2012, p. 1) and to also understand that among adult learners, there exist “varying expectations and reasons for learning” (Schultz, 2012, p. 1). Andragogy is more¬over important to adult learners and teachers because both “learners and educators alike can use [it] to strengthen the learning transaction” (Mirriam et al., 2007, p. 84). With this brief definition of andragogy, along with the corresponding reason for its importance in mind, what now follows is what this paper is going to be about. The topic of this paper is an evaluation of whether or not the traditional learning environment is conducive to learning for adult learners as opposed to the andragogical environment. And the dual purpose hereof is to first briefly relate my own personal experience in a traditional learning context (under the heading of a ‘Traditional Learning Environment’), and then to reflect upon whether or not that traditional context (this time under the heading of ‘Andragogy Reflection’) i...

    Read More

  • How to Apply Malcolm Knowles' Theories in Training work

    2395 Words  | 5 Pages

    The main body of the essay will discuss and differentiate andragogy from pedagogy, and how I might use Knowles’s theory in future training.

    Read More

  • Adult Learning Theory

    1696 Words  | 4 Pages

    .... (1987). ‘Malcolm Knowles’ in P. Jarvis (Ed.) Twentieth Century Thinkers in Adult Education. London: Croom Helm. Kearsley, G. (2011). The theory into practice database. Retrieved from http://tip.psychology.org Knowles, M. S., et al. (1984). Andragogy in action: Applying modern principles of adult education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Knowles, M. S. (1989). The making of an adult educator: An autobiographical journey. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Merriam, S. B. (2001). Andragogy and self-directed learning: Pillars of adult learning theory. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 89, 3-13. National Louis University. (2005). Retrieved from http://www.nl.edu/academics/cas/ace/resources/malcolmknowles.cfm Smith, M. K. (2002). Malcolm Knowles, informal adult education, self-direction and andragogy. Retrieved from www.infed.org/thinkers/et-knowl.htm

    Read More

  • Foundations of Adult Education

    1754 Words  | 4 Pages

    In order to build any solid structure, a good foundation is required. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, a foundation is “an underlying base or support, especially the whole substructure of a building, a body or ground upon which something is built” (www.m-w.com). Foundations must be durable to support the structure that is built above. For this reason, the Foundations of Adult Education course delves into various philosophical approaches to adult education and learning. Investigation of behavior theories helps the adult education instructor or trainer develop his or her approach to methods of instruction. In this foundational course on adult education, it is important to discuss the definition of what exactly is meant by ‘adult education’ as well as its purpose and how that has changed throughout its history.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Malcolm Knowles's Theory Of Adult Learning

    819 Words  | 2 Pages

    One theorist that is relevant to this study is Malcolm Knowles’s theory of adult learning. Though Malcom Knowles may not be the first one to introduce adult learning, he was the one that introduced andragogy in North America. (McEwen and Wills 2014). Andragogy means adult learning. The core concept of Knowles’s Adult learning theory is to create a learning environment or awareness for adults to understand why they learn .Knowles developed six main assumptions of adult learners. Those assumptions are the need to know, self- concept, experience, readiness to learn, orientation to learning and motivation. (McEwen and Wills, 2014)

    Read More

  • Andragogy: Adult Learning Theory

    1327 Words  | 3 Pages

    Edward Lindeman is thought by many to be the founder of contemporary adult education. His work in the area of adult education included the writing of articles, books, public presentations, assistance in the collegiate system as a lecturer of social work and as an associate pastor in the church (Brookfield 1986). Lindeman and Martha Anderson traveled to observe and analyze the German Folk High School system and the worker’s movement. Consequently, Lindeman and Anderson’s comparative research lead to the breakthrough of the German perception of andragogy. Their studies define andragogy as the “true method of adult learning” (1986). In 1968 at Boston University, the initial use of the term “andragogy” to attain prevalent notice of adult instructors occurred when Malcolm Knowles who at the time was an instructor of adult education, presented the term via journal article. In his 1970 book publication, he defined “andragogy” as the art and science of helping adults learn. The concept of self-directed learning, or SDL, maintained below reveals Knowles’ definition of SDL:

    Read More

  • Andragogy: The Art and Science of Helping Adults Learn

    1987 Words  | 4 Pages

    This paper begins with andragogy as being “the art and science of helping adults learn” (Kowles, 1980, p. 43; Mirrian, Caffarlla, and Baumgartner, 2007, p. 84). Bedi (2004) concluded that “[a]ndragogy facilitates the understanding of student behavior in the teaching relationship, provides a theoretical reason for teaching behavior and is a guiding philosophy for how to manage the learning environment towards an effective outcome” (p. 97); this is the source and resources of power for the teacher and the student. In addition and according to Mirriam, Caffarella, and Baumgartner (2007)—Hiemstra (1993, p. 42) stated, “Power consists of a combination of such external resources. . . as family support, social abilities, and economic abilities. It also includes various internally acquired or accumulated skills and experiences contributing to effective performance, such as resilience, coping skills, and personality” (p. 94). It is within the context of no family support, social abilities, and economic abilities, as a student, I lacked these powers that unchartered my course within educational requirements, thus, became A None-Conducive Situation That Did Not Help My Learning.

    Read More

  • Andragogy Reflection: Malcom Knowles

    1240 Words  | 3 Pages

    Andragogy has been and still is well debated among educators and psychologists. One reason for the debate is what is called “paradigm devolution.” This term suggests that ideals serve as models for beliefs and behaviors, but over time the actual practice of the ideal tends to devolve from what is ideal to that of an ideology (2002). This suggests that although instructors know that they should implement andragogy by way of adult self-directed learning, the actual art of doing so or how to do so is lost in translation.

    Read More

  • Reflection Of Adult Learning

    1459 Words  | 3 Pages

    Andragogy is focusing on creating good learning experiences for adults(2013). Here, we should understand some assumptions about the boundary of adult and pre-adult. First , Adult learner can do self-direct learning (chapter 4), and can study independent than the pre-adult or children who are totally learning rely on teachers---learner’s self-concept, also this part is the most engaged part with learning. The second assumption is the most impressive and helpful. Adult learner have more experience than other learner, that means, adult’s prior experience have a big difference feeling or motivation with other adults. Take myself for example, when I was in high school, my orientation for study was went into a good University; whereas, right now, my orientation for study is to make my life different than before. It’s a internal motivation, because I experienced many things which I didn’t experienced in high school. The part “the need to know” makes me feel distanced from

    Read More

  • Andragogy vs. Pedagogy

    916 Words  | 2 Pages

    The facilitation of this model allows adult learners to be active and self-directed in their learning.

    Read More

  • Andragogy and Pedagogy

    1535 Words  | 4 Pages

    Teaching the adult student is a great and unique responsibility; Andragogy preaches that teaching the adult learner takes a certain skill set and approach in order to be highly effective. The adult teaching theory and approach is based off the characteristics of the adult student. Andragogy views the adult learner as a very highly motivated student, a student ready and prepared to learn, and a student that comes to class with expectations of learning (Knowles 1984, pg12). With such a capable learner in the classroom the teacher must make the necessary adjustments. When teaching the adult learner, the teacher will have respect for their students and respect the fact that each student will have their own individual learning style. The teacher will also allow the adult student to experie...

    Read More

  • Adult Education

    572 Words  | 2 Pages

    Adult learning does not occur in a vacuum. What one needs or wants to learn, what opportunities are available, the manner in which one learns-all are to a large extent determined by the society in which one lives. Whenever adults are asked about their learning, they most often mention education and training programs sponsored by the workplace, colleges and universities, public schools, and other formal organizations. They first picture classrooms with “students” learning and “teachers” teaching in a highly structured format. Yet when we ask these same adults about what they have learned informally over the last year, they typically respond with descriptions of learning activities outside these formal settings. They discuss, for example, remodeling a house, which has involved everything form reading and talking...

    Read More

  • Reflection Of Pedagogy

    1503 Words  | 4 Pages

    When I began this exploration, these two words: pedagogy and andragogy, my first thought was here I go again with learning about pedagogy. What in the world is andragogy? To much my surprise, I learned the history behind pedagogy; instead of, the theories that are supposed to work in the classroom. I never heard of andragogy until I started my research; when I started reading about pedagogy and andragogy, a thought entered my brain. The old question, “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” “Which came first pedagogy or andragogy?” Does a student begin to learn from someone else, (pedagogy) or does child begin learning when they are self-directed (andragogy)

    Read More

More about Andragogy Reflection Paper

Open Document