andragogy

American  

[an-druh-goh-jee, -goj-ee] / ˈæn drəˌgoʊ dʒi, -ˌgɒdʒ i /

noun

1. the methods or techniques used to teach adults.

   Many educators believe that the principles of andragogy, as advanced by Malcolm Knowles, have great relevance to adult education; others are not so certain.

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Usage

What does andragogy mean? Andragogy refers to the methods used to teach adults. Although college and university students are often considered adults because they are over age 18 or 21, adults in this context typically refers to those who have already completed their initial course of formal schooling. The word andragogy is usually used in contrast with pedagogy, which is the art or science of teaching in general, especially as it relates to teaching children in school. Andragogy is typically used as academic jargon. In everyday conversation, the term adult education is more common. Example: Andragogy should take adult students’ life experience into account, since it will inform how they learn things.

Other Word Forms

• andragogic adjective
• andragogical adjective
• andragogically adverb

Etymology

Origin of andragogy

First recorded in 1925–30; andr- + (ped)agogy; -agogue, -y ³

Explanation

Andragogy is the art and science of teaching adults. While pedagogy focuses on how to teach children, andragogy takes into account that adults learn differently due to their maturity, experience, and motivation. The term andragogy was coined in 1833 by a German educator, but its modern framework was developed by the American educator Malcolm Knowles in the 1960s. Andragogy is based on the idea that adults prefer to direct their own learning: Their life experiences help them learn, and they are internally motivated to learn by factors like solving real-world problems, enhancing their own personal growth, and increasing job satisfaction. In short, andragogy shifts the educator's role to being a facilitator, rather than a director, of learning.