Learning Design Post 1-1.14.2011

Generally speaking, andragogy (adult learning) is explained as the opposite of pedagogy (child learning). By 1984, ten years after Malcolm Knowles wrote about the two separate theories, teachers began mixing the two models. Teachers found that explaining the importance of the subject matter and allowing the student to have a say in how they should learn ( both andragogical qualities) enhanced learning. Knowles differentiates the two theories by distinguishing the degree of dependency on the teacher. Central to the andragogical model is the learner who, as a participant, contributes directly by influencing the delivery of the learning to benefit their life goals. In contrast, in the pedagogical model, the student’s must abide by a preset curriculum designed by the teacher.


I have benefited greatly in both by masters and doctoral experience by the andragogical model. It has given me a sense of relevance and applicability to my life and career. Knowledge retention and transference of the learned skills are reinforced because of the influence I had on the delivery of the education. The programs have also resulted in lifelong friendships with the teacher and fellow students. My training experience where I work follows the pedagogical approach. At expensive all day offsite “retreats” , comedic skits and child-like games such as matching colors and shapes to boards and placing stickers on charts are used to teach leadership skills. It’s disconcerting to see the money wasted when businesses don’t understand how to apply andragogical principles to training. As stated in the book Working With Emotional Intelligence, it is the Billion Dollar Mistake (Goldman, 1998)