Malcolm Knowles

1913-1997

Background

• Born in 1913 in Livingston, Montana• Worked 9 years as

Practioner/Administrator with YMCA• Worked 8 years as Executive Director of

the Adult Education Association• Worked almost 20 years as professor of

Adult Education• Forced to retire in 1979• Died in 1997

Theory

• Andragogy– learning strategies focused on adults

Assumptions & Processes

• Increasing self-directedness

• Learners resource for learning

• Developmental tasks of social roles

• Immediacy of implementation

• Problem Centered

• Mutual self-diagnosis• Mutual Negotiation• Problem units• Experimental

techniques• Mutual measurement

of program• Collaborative

Assumptions

• Need to know why they need to learn something

• Need to learn experimentally

• Approach learning as problem-solving

• Learn best when topic is off immediate value

Principles

• Need to be involved

• Experience

• Immediate relevance

• Problem-centered

Factors for Successful Adult Learning Programs

• Students feel safe and supported• Foster intellectual freedom• Encourage experimentation & creativity• Students treated as peers by instructor• Student opinions honored & appreciated• Self-directed learning• Intellectual challenge• Active involvement• Regular feedback

Motivation

• Social relationships• External expectations• Social welfare• Personal advancement• Escape/stimulation• Cognitive interest

• Barriers

Curriculum Design

• Less interested in survey courses

• Integrate new ideas with what is known

• Conflicts with existing knowledge

• Self-directed/self-designed learning projects

• Books, tv, & programmed instruction more popular

• Self-direction != isolation

Examples

• Carla A. Downing, Ph.D

• Gerry Czarnecki reading from his book Lead with Love

• "Would Malcolm Knowles Use Twitter"