Malcolm S. Knowles' Theories of Adult Learning: Two books, Twenty Year Apart

Hello Students!

I created a web-based Prezi presentation to show highlights from two seminal books by Malcolm S. Knowles, Higher Education in the U.S. (1969) and The Making of an Adult Educator (1989).

Prezi Presentation Directions
Go to Janet's Prezi here
http://tinyurl.com/29qsw5o

1. Scroll down the page. See the black screen with titled "Malcolm Knowles: Two books Twenty Years Apart.
2. Click the black arrow on the bottom of screen to move through the presentation .
3. Option: When you are done, you can leave a comment on the bottom of the page. Prezi.com is an open source tool and is free for students/educators. Prezi also has tools to create and collaborate on presentations. Check it out!

Adult Learning and Knowles' Principles
Knowles' is known as the 'father of andragogy' (theory and practice of adult learning). His 1969 work could be described as "andragogy versus pedagogy" while his 1989 work is described as an andragogy-pedagogy continuum. Knowles recognized that adult learners' prior experience and subsequently explained how adult instructors can tap into their students' experience-base to create new knowledge. Knowles also believed that adults have both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to learn, but the intrinsic (internal) motivation was the most powerful. Also, critical to the formulation of his principles is the concept that adults are self-directed learners who are motivated when they can apply their learning, sometimes immediately to new experiences; whereas, younger learners may delay the application of the learning.

Knowles recognized the importance of identifying adult learners' readiness to learn (in a learning orientation). Further, an adult learners' self-concept impacts learning, so adults learn best in environments where they can set goals and where it is safe to experiment. It follows that, based on Knowles' concepts, effective adult educators are facilitators of adult learners.

As facilitators at Regis University, we are 'guides' to a student's self-directed learning and hopefully, we can create a safe context where experimentation and learning is nourished.


Knowles on Technology
I believe that Knowles would have enjoyed seeing the way we are experimenting with learning and technologies in our class. Knowles predicted that technology would impact adult learning. In 1969, Knowles thought that the demand for adult education would grow due to a number of economic drivers such as the need for technological skills and training in the post-industrial era. In his 1989 memoirs, Knowles recalled how adult education has used the telephone, television, and the computer "invasion" (p.121). In one chapter of his book, he recalled his frustration on learning to teach himself to format a letter on his newly-acquired Apple computer. Subsequently Knowles wrote a letter to Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple, Inc.) to explain his frustration when he had to follow technical instructions which he said were not "learner friendly" (1989, p.127)! Certainly, Knowles recognized that there would be barriers, but that technology would be a key player in advancing the needs of the adult learner population.

Final Thought
As a result of my learning, I felt stretched to generate new knowledge, meaning, and learning from my experience, especially when creating this Prezi presentation. Learning about my learning through experience has helped me to better appreciate Knowles' legacy and the principles of andragogy that he espoused.

My Adult Learning farewell video is here (on youtube).

Enjoy blogging everyone!
Prof Janet
References

Knowles, M. S. (1969). Higher adult education in the U.S. Washington, D.C: American Council on Education.
Knowles, M. S. (1989). The making of an adult educator: An autobiographical journey. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.