Andragogy – The Science of Adult Learning

Andragogy includes principles, rules, and patterns in adult learning. Andragogy studies in depth the set goals, tasks, content, and methods and organization of the learning process. The main point is that the features of this type of learning are mainly based on the experience and psychological maturity of the learner. Influence is exerted by both the social status and work activity of the person, as well as their full and meaningful participation in social life.

The development of each individual requires continuously improving and enriching their general education and professional qualifications. The professional field is dynamic, which also implies the need to pay attention to the process of self-improvement. However, for adult learning to be fruitful, it must have andragogical characteristics.

Andragogy is a concept introduced by Malcolm Knowles. It represents an attempt to create theories specifically aimed at adult learning and defines four basic features of adults, on the basis of which training programs should be made:

• the presence of a self-concept;
• accumulated experience;
• conscious readiness to learn;
• problem orientation.

Adults learn at different times and in different ways, and the goals that provoke their desire for improvement are different, but for everyone it is important to be able to immediately apply what they have learned and for it to correspond to the life situation in which they find themselves. On one hand, the experience they have can be an obstacle, on the other hand, it can stimulate them, because their self-perception as learners determines the effectiveness of learning, and in adults it is a self-directed process.

A mandatory condition for adult learning is their active participation in it. If you place the adult learner only in the position of a listener, the cause is completely lost. That is why the effectiveness depends to a large extent on well-chosen teaching methods. Specific goals are set, the learner’s engagement is ensured, and they are placed in the role of an experiencer during learning, not a passive listener.

The world is dynamic and multifaceted, so those who keep up with the times succeed – those who know and can do. Modern man is placed in conditions where they must constantly follow the news, get acquainted with modern technologies, and master new knowledge.