Evolution of Andragogy vs. Pedagogy

Alexander Kapp

Jan 1, 1833

Reference The term "andragogy", as far as we know, was first authored by Alexander Kapp, a German high school teacher. In the book entitled 'Platon's Erziehungslehre' (Plato's Educational Ideas) he describes the lifelong necessity to learn. Kapp argues that education, self-reflection, and educating the character are the first values in human life and that learning happens not only through teachers, but also through self-reflection and life experience.

Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy

Jan 1, 1925

Reference
It wasnt until the 1920's that the German historian and social philosopher Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy resurrected the term "andragogy". Being surrounded by the despirited and degenerated people after World War 1, he suggested that adult education is learned from analyzing historical events so that past failures might not be repeated. Rosenstock-Huessy became a source of inspiration for adult educators in the inter-war and post-war period.

Eduard C. Lindeman

Jan 1, 1926

Reference Around the same time that Rosenstock-Huessy was theorizing andragogy for the Germans, Eduard C. Lindeman travelled from America to Germany and became acquainted with the theory as well. He then brought the concept to America and asserted that the method for teaching adults is discussion, which was different from the teaching of children. In Lindenman's book, The Meaning of Adult Education, he lays the earliest groundwork in the USA for a major practical application of andragogy.

J.A. Simpson

Jan 1, 1964

Reference The British writer J.A. Simpson proposed that andragogy could serve as a title for an attempt to identify a body of knowledge relevant to the training of those concerned with Adult Education. He speculated that four main strands could be parallel to what already existed in child education. These strands were the study of adult education, the study of adults, educational psychology of adults, and generalized andragogical methods for teaching adults.

Malcolm S. Knowles

Jan 1, 1968

Reference In 1968 a major technological breakthrough in the field of adult education was conceptualized by Malcolm Knowles. This new label and new approach to andragogy came as a result of a Yugoslavian adult educator, Dusan Savicevic, in which Knowles attached his own special philosophy and meaning and then combined his expanding practice around the world.

The Modern Practice of Adult Education: Andragogy vs. Pedagogy.

Jan 1, 1970

Reference Knowels writes one of the most influencial publications on the newly emerging technology of adult education based on his original theory of andragogy, The Modern Practice of Adult Education: Andragogy vs. Pedagogy. Its central thesis is that adults are different from young people as learners, and that a different approach is needed. The structure of his andragogical expression took the form of a process design instead of a content design, with assumptions and processes.

The Emergence of Self-Directed Learning Skills

Jan 1, 1975

Reference An instrument entitled Educational Orientation Questionnaire was developed by doctoral student, Hadley, that helps in assessing an adult educator's orientation to the contructs of andragogy and pedagogy. Around this same time, Knowles provided a self-directed guide for learners and teachers including a list of required skills of self-directed learning.

Peter Jarvis

Jan 1, 1985

Reference Oppose to Knowles, the Bristich scholar, Peter Jarvis estimated that the theory of andragogy had moved into the status of an established doctrine, but was not grounded enough in sufficient empirical research to justify its dominate position. Moreover, Jarvis thought that andragogy had been connected with a sign of the times when romantic curriculums were dominant, and with that passing, andragogy was losing much of its appeal.

Supporters of Knowles' Theory

Jan 1, 1986

Reference 1986- Taylor offered a very strong and articulate research based model, for the andragogical process of transition into learning for self-direction in the classroom. 1989- Henschke developed an andragogical assessment instrument entitled Instructional Perspective Inventory which was later validated. The central and strongest core element in it is the teacher trust of learners and the learners trust in their own ability to learn.

Supporters of Knowles' Theory

Oct 27, 1991

Reference 1991- Savicevic provided a critical consideration of andragogical concepts in ten European Countries. He also believes that andragogy is a fairly independent scientific discipline, the subject of which is the study of education and learning of adults in all its forms of expression. 1996- Houle states that Knowles' work in andragogy remains the most learner-centered of all patterns of adult educational programming, creating a climate in which adults can fruitifully learn.

Andragogy Today

Oct 27, 2015

Reference To ensure that educators meet the needs of the 21st century learner, teachers are begining to realize that traditional pedagogy, while once the norm, was never as effective as it was made out to be. To properly implement technology in the classroom setting, educators have began to use an andragogical approach with learners of all ages. In essence, our schools are begining to move from teacher-centered to learner-centered education.