MALCOLM KNOWLES, Ph.D.

"Adults need to know why they need to learn something before undertaking to learn it."

- Dr. Malcom Knowles

"Father of Andragogy"

1913-1997

Fast Facts

He is known as the "father of andragogy" or adult learning theory (Smith, 2002).
Knowles graduated from Harvard University with B.A. and the University of Chicago with M.A. and Ph.D. in Education (Smith, 2002).
He taught at the University of Chicago, Boston University, and North Carolina State University (Smith, 2002).
In the 1950s, Knowles was the Executive Director of the Adult Education Association of the United States (Smith, 2002).
He coined the term, andragogy, which is the art and science of adult learning (Bates, 2009; Smith, 2002).
Knowles introduced the concept of learning contracts for adult learners (Bates, 2009).
He advanced the theory of educating adult learners (Bates, 2009; Smith, 2002).
He wrote the book, The Modern Practice of Adult Education: From Pedagogy to Andragogy, in 1980 (Bates, 2009; Smith, 2002).
Click here for a video about andragogy and Knowles (Lessiter, 2013).

References:

Bates, C. (2009). Malcolm Knowles. Retrieved from http://web.utk.edu/~start6/knowles/

malcolm_knowles.html

Lessiter, J. (2013, July 1). Adult learning theory [Video File]. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr7NQT0EsXc

Smith, M. K. (2002). Malcolm Knowles, informal adult education, self-direction and

andragogy, Retrieved from www.infed.org/thinkers/et-knowl.htm.

Adult Learning Theory

Knowles' Four Principles of Andragogy:

Adult learners need to be part of the planning and implementation of their instruction.
Adult learners learn from their experiences, and their experiences must be the basis for learning exercises.
Adult learners are more interested in subject matters that are related to their personal lives or jobs.
Adult learning is problem-oriented as opposed to content-oriented (Miroballi, 2010).

Knowles' Six Assumptions of Adult Learners:

Self-concept of learner
Adult learner experience
Readiness to learn
Orientation to learning
Motivation to learn
Need to learn (St. Clair, 2002)

References:

Miroballi, B. (2010). Adult learning theory (andragogy). Retrieved from

https://sites.google.com/a/nau.edu/educationallearningtheories/

adult-learning-theory-andragogy-by-barbara-miroballi

St. Clair, R. (2002). Andragogy revisited: Theory for the 21st century? Myth or reality no. 19 (Eric Report ED19). Retrieved from Educational Resources Information Center website: http://calpro-online.org/eric/docgen.asp?tbl=mr&ID=109