Excerpted from The E-Learning Industry, The Adult Learning Theory - Andragogy - of Malcolm Knowles, By Christoforos Pappas (May 9, 2013)
Marcus Knowles’ Four Principles Of Adult Learning (Andragogy)--1984
Marcus Knowles’ Four Principles Of Adult Learning (Andragogy)--1984
- Adults need to be involved in the planning and evaluation of their instruction.
- Experience (including mistakes) provides the basis for the learning activities.
- Adults are most interested in learning subjects that have immediate relevance and impact to their job or personal life.
- Adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-oriented.
As applied to the design of personal computer training these principles suggest that:
- There is a need to explain the reasons specific things are being taught (e.g., certain commands, functions, operations, etc.)
- Instruction should be task-oriented instead of promoting memorization -- learning activities should be in the context of common tasks to be performed by the others.
- Instruction should take into account the wide range of different backgrounds of learners; learning materials and activities should allow for different levels/types of previous experience with computers.
- Since adults are self-directed, instruction should allow learners to discover things and knowledge for themselves without depending on people. However, learners should be offered guidance and help when mistakes are made.
