Pedagogy vs Andragogy
It’s cool on my back porch this morning. How is it in your corner of the world? Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee, where we talk about important stuff…all things education, corrections, leadership, and being good human beings. Grab your morning beverage (I forgive you if it isn’t coffee. No judgement. Maybe a little judgement).
The world of education is a complex and diverse field, filled with various methods and approaches to facilitate learning. Two prominent concepts that often surface in discussions about education are pedagogy and andragogy. While these terms may sound similar, they represent distinct approaches to teaching and learning, each tailored to the needs of different age groups and learning contexts. I find that most educators are well-versed in pedagogy but not necessarily andragogy. It’s an important distinction if you’re working with adult learners. So this morning, I thought we’d take a look at both approaches and why we should be well-versed in both.
Pedagogy: The Art of Teaching Children
Pedagogy is the traditional approach to teaching and learning, primarily focused on instructing children or young learners. It’s derived from the Greek words "paidos," meaning child, and "agogos," meaning leader, emphasizing the role of the teacher as the leader of the learning process. Here are some key characteristics of pedagogy:
Teacher-Centered: In pedagogy, the teacher takes a central role in planning, organizing, and delivering lessons. They’re responsible for transmitting knowledge to students.
Structured Curriculum: The curriculum is often predetermined and structured, following a prescribed sequence of topics and activities.
Passive Learning: Students are viewed as recipients of knowledge, expected to absorb and memorize information provided by the teacher.
Classroom Environment: Pedagogical classrooms typically have a hierarchical setup, with the teacher at the front and students in rows, fostering a one-way flow of information.
Andragogy: The Art of Teaching Adults
Andragogy, on the other hand, is an educational approach designed for adult learners. Coined by Malcolm Knowles, this term is derived from the Greek word "aner," meaning man, and "agogos," meaning leader. Andragogy acknowledges that adult learners have unique needs and motivations that differ from those of children. Here are some key characteristics of andragogy:
Learner-Centered: Andragogy places a strong emphasis on the self-directed nature of adult learners. They are considered active participants in their own learning process.
Flexible Curriculum: The curriculum in andragogy is often flexible and tailored to the specific needs and interests of adult learners. The learner has input into what they want to learn.
Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Adult learners are encouraged to engage in problem-solving, critical thinking, and reflection, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
Collaborative Learning: Andragogy often promotes peer collaboration and discussion, recognizing that adults bring valuable life experiences to the learning environment.
Key Differences
Though there are many differences in methods and motivations between andragogy and pedagogy, the audience (adults vs. children) is most important.
Dependence
Andragogy: Adults are independent and desire to be self-directed and empowered in their learning.
Pedagogy: Children are dependent on the teacher to facilitate and structure their learning.
Learning Reasons
Andragogy: Teaching adults centers learning on the necessary skills or knowledge to further personal and professional development.
Pedagogy: Teaching children centers learning on the essential stages that a child must accomplish before being able to move on to the next stage.
Learning Resources
Andragogy: Adults use their own experiences and the experiences of others to gain a better understanding of the curriculum at hand.
Pedagogy: Children are dependent on the teacher for all learning resources. The teacher’s role is to create and incorporate engaging methods for knowledge retention.
Learning Focus
Andragogy: Adult learning is often problem-centered, making the impact more focused on current events or real life.
Pedagogy: Child learning is a subject-focused model with prescriptive curriculum.
Motivation
Andragogy: Adults gain motivation from internal, self-motivated sources (self-esteem, confidence, recognition, etc.)
Pedagogy: Children gain motivation from external sources (parents, teachers, tangible rewards, etc.)
Teacher’s Role
Andragogy: The teacher acts more as a facilitator, encouraging collaboration, mutual respect, and openness with learners.
Pedagogy: The teacher acts more as an expert, bestowing knowledge, skill, and structure to learners.
In the realm of education, understanding the difference between pedagogy and andragogy is crucial for educators, trainers, and anyone involved in facilitating learning experiences. While pedagogy is well-suited for teaching children and young learners, andragogy is tailored to the unique needs and motivations of adult learners. As educators, it is important to recognize these differences and choose the most appropriate approach to create effective and engaging learning experiences for our students, regardless of their age or background.
If you’ve ever observed a correctional education classroom in an adult prison or jail, you may note that it looks much more like a traditional pedagogical set-up. There are a few reasons for this. One is that trained teachers are generally NOT trained in andragogy. They teach how they were trained to teach, which is almost always to serve primary or secondary students. Even in postsecondary classes, we’re more likely to see a pedagogical setup where the professor lectures, makes assignments connected to texts and lecture, then students complete them. Both of these are still largely hierarchical, passive learning, teacher-centered, with a predetermined curriculum. In a carceral setting, many of the hallmarks of an andragogical approach are prohibited: i.e. group work, the student leading learning, or a collaborative, open classroom. In postsecondary settings, the sheer numbers of students can make it difficult.
If we’re working with adult learners, though, we need to be experts on how they learn, and then we need to adjust how we teach. One of the easiest ways to achieve success is to acknowledge the learner’s life experiences and count those as expertise on which they can build knowledge and skills. We also use the term pedagogy to mean the method and practice of teaching, in general, but it’s smart to remember the distinctions between it’s basis and andragogy so that we reach our students where they are and help them get to the finish line. If you need more information or want some design assistance, you can contact me here.
That’s my geek-out session for today. Maybe for the week. Nah. Not true. Too many geek-out moments on average for that to be accurate. But, I sorta like that about my brain. And speaking of my brain, it needs a tad bit more caffeination. I hope your week is lovely, full of creativity, passion, peace, with a little splash of geek-out when needed.
Tallyho!
