"Based in humanistic psychology, Knowles's version of andragogy presents the individual learner as one who is autonomous, free, and growth-oriented. Critics have pointed out that there is little or no acknowledgment that every person has been shaped by his or her culture and society, that every person has a history, and that social institutions and structures define, to a large extent, the learning transaction irrespective of the individual learner." (7) Knowles is stating in his theory of humanistic andragogy that the adult learner is free and independent from the confines of their culture. In adult learning experiences he feels that the motivation comes from the individual and not from a teacher. He feels the learning environment should support but not direct the learning. In fact I feel that adult learning comes from both individual initiation and the interaction that takes place within the learning group. In the past, when I was learning as an adult, I felt that learning was directed predominantly by the professor. I felt how I reacted to the course material was not related to my place in society or influenced by my culture which goes along with Knowles's idea. In reflection I think that my adult learning was both individually and community based because one does not live outside one's own experiences. When I taught adult learners, the material was presented by the teacher but the subject matter and motivation was student directed and based on their experiences. The student's writing was autobiographical and they were free to chose reading material based on their interests. For an adult to learn they have to believe what they are learning is significant to their lives.
"Based in humanistic psychology, Knowles's version of andragogy presents the individual learner as one who is autonomous, free, and growth-oriented. Critics have pointed out that there is little or no acknowledgment that every person has been shaped by his or her culture and society, that every person has a history, and that social institutions and structures define, to a large extent, the learning transaction irrespective of the individual learner." (7)
ReplyDeleteKnowles is stating in his theory of humanistic andragogy that the adult learner is free and independent from the confines of their culture. In adult learning experiences he feels that the motivation comes from the individual and not from a teacher. He feels the learning environment should support but not direct the learning. In fact I feel that adult learning comes from both individual initiation and the interaction that takes place within the learning group.
In the past, when I was learning as an adult, I felt that learning was directed predominantly by the professor. I felt how I reacted to the course material was not related to my place in society or influenced by my culture which goes along with Knowles's idea. In reflection I think that my adult learning was both individually and community based because one does not live outside one's own experiences.
When I taught adult learners, the material was presented by the teacher but the subject matter and motivation was student directed and based on their experiences. The student's writing was autobiographical and they were free to chose reading material based on their interests. For an adult to learn they have to believe what they are learning is significant to their lives.