A Way out of the Andragogy Morass [microform] / Joseph Davenport, III.
Andragogy continues to generate discussion and capture the imagination of many adult educators. However, early critics have been joined by an increasing number of educators, researchers, and practitioners who question andragogy's theoretical and practical efficacy. This article reviews the natu...
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Microfilm Book |
| Language: | English |
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1987.
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| Summary: | Andragogy continues to generate discussion and capture the imagination of many adult educators. However, early critics have been joined by an increasing number of educators, researchers, and practitioners who question andragogy's theoretical and practical efficacy. This article reviews the nature of the andragogy debate and advances a revised definition of andragogy aimed at moving adult education from morass to higher conceptual ground. The concept's originator, Malcolm Knowles, has himself added to the confusion with his paradoxical definitions of andragogy and pedagogy and with his assumptions, which lack clarity and solid empirical support. Emerging research results do not appear to support Knowles' conceptualization of andragogy as a theory or proven method. Some adult educators even argue that adult education should simply drop the term "andragogy" from its lexicon. Although adult education could survive without the concept of andragogy, it does possess significant public relations value. Andragogy also has the potential of serving as a unifying framework for adult education if definitional problems can be worked out and if old and new assumptions are rigorously tested before possible incorporation into a larger theory. Redefining andragogy could be as simple as returning to and perhaps broadening its original definition. Andragogy, meaning "adult leader," and previously defined as "the art and science of facilitating adult learning," could be redefined as "the art and science of teaching and facilitating the learning of adults." (Author/MN) |
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| Item Description: | ERIC Note: Paper presented at the Conference of the Georgia Adult Education Association (Savannah, GA, March 4, 1987). ERIC Document Number: ED283989. |
| Physical Description: | 20 pages. |
| Reproduction Note: | Microfiche. |
| Action Note: | committed to retain |