Publication: Andragogy Revisited: Theory for the 21st Century?

• St. Clari, Ralf

Malcolm Knowles claims andragogy is the art and science of
teaching adults and sets out six assumptions. However,
andragogy is not all about learning--the assumptions
demonstrate how the theory lays out a humanist view of
learners and their potential for growth, with implications
for teaching, social philosophy, and human relationships.
Andragogy can be considered an approach to the education
and development of adults strongly rooted in the
disciplinary needs of adult education in the 1960s, but
providing little insight into learning other than a set of
assumptions about learners. Despite Knowles' claim that the
framework could be applied to any adult learning setting,
critiques from such individuals as Tisdell, Grace, and
Rachal make it essential to recognize that andragogy only
addresses certain types of learning at certain times.
Furthermore, andragogy cannot be claimed as the
distinguishing feature of adult education as a field. It
does not provide a clear delineation between what can be
considered education of children and that of adults and
adult education and human resource development. In the
future, andragogy will maintain its role as a necessary
component of the field's shared knowledge, but it is highly
unlikely to be viewed as sufficient to explain or shape the
education of adults. (Contains 15 references)