Read on Twitter
A critique of andragogy – a short, snarky thread:
Andragogy principle 1 – adults are mostly driven by internal motivations (i.e. intrinsic motivation)
Critique: And kids are not? Pretty sure the research on motivation suggests otherwise. Also, paychecks?
Andragogy principle 1 – adults are mostly driven by internal motivations (i.e. intrinsic motivation)
Critique: And kids are not? Pretty sure the research on motivation suggests otherwise. Also, paychecks?
Andragogy principle 2 – adults need to know the reason for learning (relevance)
Critique: Does this start off as not true then become so as we age? Don't most kids ask why and want to know why they have to learn math, learn how to read, learn about metamorphosis, etc.?
Critique: Does this start off as not true then become so as we age? Don't most kids ask why and want to know why they have to learn math, learn how to read, learn about metamorphosis, etc.?
Andragogy principle 3 – adults are motivated to learn in order to deal with an issue or problem of immediate concern (again, relevance)
Critique: *sigh* so are kids – we just don’t often frame their education this way, and that’s our bad, not theirs
Critique: *sigh* so are kids – we just don’t often frame their education this way, and that’s our bad, not theirs
Andragogy principle 4 – adults possess a self-concept of responsibility and self-direction
Critique: So did my middle schooler / high schooler now adult learner. No, seriously. Perhaps we stunt this (socially, culturally)?
Critique: So did my middle schooler / high schooler now adult learner. No, seriously. Perhaps we stunt this (socially, culturally)?
Andragogy principle 5 – learning readiness links to development in social roles
Question: Is this not a driver throughout life? The attempt to contrast adult w/ non-adult learning is too sharp and doesn’t contend well enough w/ the years between elementary school and adulthood.
Question: Is this not a driver throughout life? The attempt to contrast adult w/ non-adult learning is too sharp and doesn’t contend well enough w/ the years between elementary school and adulthood.
Andragogy principle 6 – adults draw on a deep supply of prior experience
Critique: Well, you got me there. Oh wait, what do we mean by “experience”? Because many children have experience in some areas than many adults do (now we have to talk privilege).
Critique: Well, you got me there. Oh wait, what do we mean by “experience”? Because many children have experience in some areas than many adults do (now we have to talk privilege).
Side note: "experience" is such a problematic term/concept. By "experience" do we mean prior knowledge and expertise? Or does this mean experience as opinion or anecdote? Or do we mean actual lived experiences? Do any of these definitions matter, and do they truly differentiate?
Additionally – especially as one reads about how humans learn (memory, motivation, practice, etc.), it’s also clear that these principles aren’t limited to adults or children but rather is a description of human learning.
Adult learning / andragogy always leaves me wondering – what is truly different versus what is true for us as humans across our lifespan?
(PS, I did say this was short and snarky - I'm missing tons of nuance, so I welcome the replies that are sure to be more thoughtful)
(PS, I did say this was short and snarky - I'm missing tons of nuance, so I welcome the replies that are sure to be more thoughtful)
