What is Andragogy?
Andragogy is the art and science of helping adults learn. It contrasts with pedagogy, which focuses on teaching children. Developed by Malcolm Knowles in the 20th century, andragogy emphasizes the unique needs and characteristics of adult learners.
Adults are generally self-directed, bringing experiences and prior knowledge into the learning environment. Andragogy recognizes that adults are motivated to learn when they see the relevance of the material to their personal or professional lives.
Key principles of andragogy include:
- Self-direction: Adults prefer to take charge of their own learning.
- Experience: Adult learners bring diverse experiences that influence their learning.
- Readiness to learn: Adults are ready to learn when they face real-life challenges.
- Problem-oriented learning: Adults are motivated to learn in order to solve problems.
- Intrinsic motivation: Adults are driven by the desire for personal growth and development.
In the context of multimodal learning, andragogy plays a crucial role as it encourages the use of various methods and media to enhance the learning experience, catering to different adult learning styles and preferences.