Andragogy vs Pedagogy WED 486 Theory and Practice

Andragogy vs Pedagogy WED 486 Theory and Practice of Adult Education Julie Neuner May 19, 2012

Andragogy is the art and science of teaching adults Pedagogy is the art and science of teaching children

History of Pedagogy • Pedagogy evolved in monastic schools of Europe between 7 th & 12 th centuries. • Pedagogy spread in North America in the 18 th & 19 th centuries as elementary schools evolved. • Most dominant and widespread method of instruction.

History of Andragogy • First introduced in the U. S. in 1927, but didn’t take root until the 1960’s • Malcolm Knowles (1913 -1977) is credited with the spread of theory in the U. S. • Heavily debated by educational researchers as to whether or not it is an educational theory or model of assumptions about learning.

The Learner Pedagogy • Dependent on instructor for all learning Andragogy • Learner is self-directed • Learner is responsible for his or her learning • Teacher is responsible • Self-evaluation is for what is taught and characteristic of this how it is learned approach • Teacher evaluates the learning

The Learner’s Experience Pedagogy • Learner has little experience with the subject • Experience of the teacher is predominant in learning experience • Teacher plans & organizes what is taught Andragogy • Learner brings life experience that helps shape and guide the instruction • Adults are rich resources for one another • Different experiences assure diversity in groups of adults

Orientation to Learning Pedagogy • Standards based • Learning is a process of acquiring prescribed subject matter • Content units are sequenced to logic of subject matter Andragogy • Learners perform tasks, solve problems • Learning must be relevant to real-life tasks • Learning is organized around life/work situations rather than subject matter units

Motivation for Learning Pedagogy • Students are told what they must learn in order to advance • Motivated by external pressures • Competition for grades • Consequences of failure Andragogy • Change triggers motivation to learn • Improved quality of life • Self-confidence & Goal oriented • Intrinsic motivators

Six Key Principles

Debate • More of conceptual framework or model of assumptions about learning than a theory. • Different philosophical views on whether or not a different set of teaching practices is needed for adults & children • Some view pedagogy/andragogy as interchangeable for children & adults • Not all adults are naturally self-directed & some children have richer life experiences than some adults

Research • At the turn of 20 th century educational psychologists began studying learning most learning was focused on children • Pedagogical model became dominant method of instruction • More adult learners caused problems to arise and need for andragogical model evolved • Very little research has been done on andragogy • Knowles work has provided educators of adults with a rubric to better understand adult learners

Websites worth viewing: • http: //ged 578. pbworks. com/w/page/39340105/Andragogy • Moving from pedagogy to andragogy http: //www-distance. syr. edu/andraggy. html • Pedagogy vs. andragogy: A false dichotomy? http: //www. scholar. lib. vt. edu/ejournals/JOTS/Summer-Fall 2000/holmes. html • Pedagogy vs. andragogy http: //www. floridatechnet. org/inservice/abestudent/andravsp ed. pdf