My Views on Andragogy and Pedagogy

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Andragogy- A Process
My view is based on Malcom Knowles, who described the theory of adult learning with six assumptions.  He believes these are the key assumptions to learning.  Here is a list of the assumptions:

1. Need to know-Why?
2. Self Concept-Who's responsibility?
3. Experience-Does it lead to being bias or single mindedness? Is the key adding knowledge?
4. Readiness to Learn-Do you need direction? Do you need support or encouragement?
5. Orientation to Learning-Is learning based on task and problems? Do we generalize from experience to develop concepts and theories?
6. Motivation to Learn-Do we need rewards and grades? Do we need self satisfaction?

My personal opinion based on my knowledge and experiences is that we would like all of the six assumptions.  It would be great to have all six but most of us do it everyday with maybe one out of the six assumptions. He also believed that children could not learn from experience. I totally disagree with that. I have three children and when they were toddlers they learned valuable lessons.  One example is not to touch the iron. She touched it after many warnings but she never did it again.

Pedagogy-Content Teachers Decide
Malcom Knowles belief is that teachers lead the knowledge because most students go into class unaware of subject so whatever information the teacher feeds the student will then gain knowledge that the teacher presents.  Here are some assumptions Knowles made:

1. Dependency-Is it learned dependency?
2. Importance-Is learners knowledge and experience not important?
3. Subject-Is it centered (what teacher would like you to know)?

I agree with him stating learned dependency because my experiences working in many schools have me to believe the children gain a dependency and most forget responsibility of learning on their own. Most teachers do not pay attention to students personal experiences or knowledge.  The subjects are centered by what the teachers or school requires.