The theory of andragogy is an attempt by Malcolm Knowles to explain how adults different from children in how they learn.
Malcolm Knowles six principles of andragogy are: (1) Adults need to know why they need to learn something (2) Adults need to build on their experience, (3) Adults have a need to feel responsible for their learning, (4) Adults are ready to learn if training solves an immediate problem (5) Adults want their training to be problem focused, (6) Adults learn best when motivation comes intrinsically.
If you interested in more adult learner traits, check out 10 Characteristics Of Adult Learners.
How to pronounce andragogy
Let’s look at each of these assumptions.
The Six Principles of Andragogy
1. Adults Need to Know why
Adults need to know the reason they are being asked to learn. They need to understand “How is this beneficial to me?”
One way you can do this is to relate the objectives to something that can help the learner personally. Appeal to the self-interest instead of learning for the sake of learning.
Now, let’s take a look at number two of the principles of andragogy, experience.
2. Adults Need To Build On Their Experience
Adult learners come with vast life experience. This experience should provide the foundation for the learning activities. The role of the instructor is to communicate the relationship between their experience and the material.
Additionally, your learner’s experience can add to the classes’ knowledge base. Leveraging this experience can be a motivator for your learners.
Next, let’s examine self-concept, the third of the principles of andragogy.
3. Adults Have A Need To Feel Responsible
Adults have a need to be responsible for their learning decisions. Design lessons that give them some control over their learning direction. eLearning is an excellent tool for providing this control.
This works best when you have the fourth of the principles of andragogy in place, solving and immediate problem.
4. Solves An Immediate Problem
Adults learn best when the training can help them solve a real-life problem. Motivation increases in adults when there is an immediate reason to learn.
That leads us to the fifth principle of andragogy, problem focused.
5. Problem Focused
Adults learn best when content is problem focused. They want to learn specific knowledge, skills and/or abilities that solve a problem. Adults are much more likely to learn when they feel the training can help them right now.
Now it’s time to look at the sixth of the principles of andragogy, finding the learner’s internal motivator.
6. Motivation Comes Intrinsically
Adults learn best when the motivation come internally. External motivation in the form of job or life is definitely a motivator. However, this type of motivation is often grounded in negative emotion and is fleeting.
Intrinsic motivators are things like knowing something makes them feel better about themselves or will give them more opportunities to grow.
If you are having trouble motivating your students, take a look at ARCS Motivation Model.
Putting these assumptions into practice
- Promote a positive classroom climate centered around cooperative learning;
- Research the interests and the needs of each adult learner;
- Create learning goals based on the interests and needs outlined above;
- Build on each subsequent activity to achieve the learning objectives;
- Co-create strategies, resources, and methods for instruction;
- Review each activity and make modifications where necessary, while continually evaluating the next steps for learning.
Conclusion
Knowles sought to understand the uniqueness of adult learners. Now that you understand Malcolm Knowles six principles of andragogy, leave a comment below if you noticed any of them in your classroom.
