Abstract

While the bulk of Malcolm Knowles’ work was done in the United States, andragogy has rich roots around the world, particularly in Europe. Scholarship on andragogy since 1990 has taken two directions. One seeks analysis of the origins of the concept for establishing it as a scientific discipline. The other critiques andragogy for its lack of attention to the learning context. Van Gent asserted that andragogy has been used to designate the education of adults, an approach to teaching adults, social work, management, and community organization. Its future lies only as a generic term for adult education and as a complement to pedagogy, which has been used mainly to focus on the art and science of teaching children. Hiemstra and Sisco suggested a situation that gave rise to the emergence of andragogy as an alternative model of instruction to improve the teaching of adults. They asserted that mature adults become increasingly independent and responsible for their own actions.

Learning objectives

Learners will be able to:

1. Discuss the evolution of the term andragogy from an international perspective.
2. Identify the differences between European and American perspectives on andragogy.

Discussion Questions

What is the most important period in the evolution of andragogy? Why?

Evolution of the Term Andragogy Infographic

Reflection Questions

19.1 What are some of the antecedents to modern day adult learning theory and practice?

19.2 How do European and American perspectives on andragogy differ?

19.3 Do you think it is important to have a since view of andragogy? Explain.