Introduction to Adult LearningSession 1

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Why adults and children learn differently?

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(AN-druh-go-jee)

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ANDRAGOGY = leader of man

• andr- is Latin for “man” and agogus is Latin for “leader of”

1833 Alexander Kapp, German educator, coined the term

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1970s Malcom Knowles introduced the concept in US • Dusan Savicevic, a Yugoslavian educator, made Knowles aware of the term

“Andragogy” in 1967 (Knowles, 1990)

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What is Andragogy?

A set of core learning principles that enable us to build more effective learning processes for adults

1. Learner’s need to know

2. Self-concept of the learner

3. Prior experience of the learner

4. Readiness to learn

5. Orientation to learning

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1. Learner’s need to know Why /What /How

2. Self-concept of the learner Autonomous Self-directed

3. Prior experience of the learner Resource Mental models

4. Readiness to learn Life related Developmental task

5. Orientation to learning Problem solving Contextual

6. Motivation to learn Intrinsic value Personal payoff

GOALS AND PURPOSES FOR LEARNING

INDIVIDUAL AND SITUATIONAL DIFFERENCES

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Societal gro

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Individual learner differences

Individual growth

CORE ADULT LEARNING PRINCIPLES

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What is the view of adult learning in adult education?

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Central to its theory and practice

What is the view of adult learning and HRD?

Central to its theory and practice

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What is the core goal and purpose of learning in HRD?

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Organizational performance

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What is the core goal and purpose of adult education?

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Individual growth

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What is a Theory?

• “a theory simply explains what a phenomenon is and how it works” (Torraco, 1997)

•Why do people mean when they say it is 'just a theory‘?

•Could we avoid theories?

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NO ESCAPE FROM THEORIES

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What is a Theory?

• The facts of science are themselves theory laden (Slife & Williams, 1995, p.5)

• Interpretation is involved in every understanding• Even statistics have embedded assumption

• In academic world, theories require extensive development and verification before earning the label “theory”

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The Importance of Theory

Guide all interventions

Enrich our understanding

Fill gaps in our less-then-complete knowledge

• unexamined ideas can have important consequences for those to whom they are applied

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Open-mindedness the root of critical thinking

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What theories are in use?What are their hidden assumptions?What are their advantages and disadvantages?What alternate ideas are needed?

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Friends or Enemies?

In applied discipline, both theory and practice are of great concern

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3 CONCLUSIONS

We cannot escape theory

All theories have assumptions and implications embedded in them

Their hidden influences have important consequences

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Ontological Views of Learning

Humanistic Endeavor • The primary purpose of learning is to

enhance human potential• Aligned with humanistic psychology and

existentialist philosophy

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Ontological Views of Learning

• Value-Neutral Transmission of Information• Pragmatic philosophy• Learning is a means to solve problems of everyday living • Large part of training practice is grounded in this perspective

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Ontological Views of Learning

•Tool for Societal Oppression• Learning used to control, restrict and oppress (communists, Nazis)

• Cults use learning to brainwash people• Religions have used learning to restrict worldviews of people

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