Health Guide

Learning theories Malcolm Knowles

Abstract: The dichotomy of andragogy and pedagogy reflex the concept of our 21 century education system. The education of adult’s moves towards independence, where instructors encourage and nurtures strategies to implement rich resource for learning in an environment that is people friendly and learning is motivated around experience gained in everyday activities.

  On the opposite spectrum students are dependent on set standardized curriculum directed by the teacher to satisfy society’s expectation. This standard curriculum may not compliment individual student’s needs to perform in a complex diversified living and working environment. 
The term andragogy was originally formulated by a German teacher, Alexander Kapp, in 1833 (Nottingham Andragogy Group 1983: v) He used it to describe elements of Plato’s education theory. Mark Smith (1996, 1999). Pedagogy derives from the Greek paidagogia: the word “paid” means leader. Thus pedagogy originally meant education, attendance on children. “Adult Learning and Technology”. Pedagogy literally means the art and science of educating children and often is used as a synonym for teaching. More accurately, pedagogy embodies teacher focused education. Marcia L Conner. Although the term andragogy has been in use since 1833, it was Malcolm S Knowles, who in cooperated in his 1970 theory for adult education.

The Modern Practice of Adult Education: Andragogary versus Pedagogy, first popularized the term in North America and organized the concepts into a comprehensive theory. Jay Friedman (OISE/UT) The major concept of the theory of andragogy is to fascinate the true concept of adult learning style. Malcolm Knowles identify four sets of ideas or rules that separate adult’s education from children as learners in the education system. The four ideas or assumptions are self-concept, experience, readiness to learn and orientation.
 Self concept: Is what we understand about our self, our abilities to function in our society our physical appearance, our mental, spiritual and emotional perception of our value to society. Our thinking and feeling, can change because we see and understand things differently as they may relate to our belief and understanding. Adult can build their self image by accumulating knowledge about his or her self regarding belief, values, occupation.
Experience: Experience provide personal encounter and understanding of our everyday activities as we navigate life’s challenging pathway. The totality of knowledge gained from our perception of our work environment. When someone applies for a job you are asked for your experience for that specific task. Experience is an essential tool everyone needs to physically function in our work environment. Before you apply for job you need to know the requirement, application and procedure of the company.
 Life is full of experience. Many people experience social anxiety, they are shy, awkward and have self esteem problems. They have a negative preconception of them-selves, they always think of the worst thing could happen to them in any given moment, because of this they avoid being around people. Then there are the positive and assertive people. They are confident and in command of their surroundings. They are physical, mentally, spiritually and emotionally balance in their perception of life.      

Redness to Learn:  Our rudeness to learn motivates and prepares us to face the challenges we need to overcome to achieve success.  It is imperative that adult education is prepared for each individual’s need. Knowles concepts for adult education eliminate mediocrity concepts and provide a balance in the class room, where individuals are not intimidated, but empowered by the educational concepts of the instructor skill to motivate each individual to bridge their weakness with their strength.
Orientation: From a human resource and perspective, orientation is an introductory process of getting new employee acquainted with the work environment. It is a major part of the employee socialization process in an organization to acquire confident and commitment to achieve his or her greatest expectation. Orientation is usually followed by training tailored to specific job position and the policy and procedure of a safe working environment.  Orientation is also an adjustment or adaptation to a new community or a marketing concept that need special skills and motivation to gain customers satisfaction and expectation.

The four above concepts, discussed are the normal expectation of our complex competitive technological society. Most adults who return to the classroom are motivated to achieve a specific goal. Malcom Knowles carefully identified the characteristic of adult learners as people who need the freedom to accumulate knowledge that is relevant and tailored to acquire their specific needs. Each adult has accumulated wealth of experience from their social, work and home environment. The instructor actively uses his or her teaching skill to involve these adults learner’s participation in the learning process.  Each participant is motivated to assume responsibility in group activities. The main reason for these activities is to allow adults to develop and market the accumulation of wisdom and knowledge of their life’s experience. There is a need for people to connect learning to their every day acquired experience. In the classroom each individual brings something special to add to this rich resource.
The two strategies I would put in practice are experience and self concept.

Experience:  Adult respond more positively, when an instructor uses motivating strategies and techniques to facilitate adult learner’s participation in group activities and discussions relevant to specific needs.   Instructors should not perceive that adult; learn differently than other age groups. From personal experience, It is not always accurate to assume that adults are significantly more intellectually curious, motivated to learn, willing to take more responsibility for their own learning and willing to work hard to accomplish their objectives. In reality this may not be the case for some adults. Adult learning involves instructor’s ability to structure and engages in a learning centered approach, which involves the adult in the teaching and learning process.  Adult learning could be influence by both positive and negative factors. We are motivationally driven by our emotional experiences and social expectation. Adult seeking a new learning or added experience are usually motivated by the usefulness of the knowledge and skill gained from the teacher and others.

Matthew E McLaren     PPP