10.2 Course Essential Question

How might we use knowledge of andragogy and pedagogy to enhance our ability to leverage educational technology for teaching and learning?

One way we might use our knowledge of andragogy and pedagogy is by understanding that different learners need different teaching strategies. I had not heard the term “andragogy” before and generally associated the word “pedagogy” with the science of teaching and learning. In reading Knowles “What is Andragogy?” I was intrigued by the idea that a new type of teaching and learning began to be understood following WWII and a differentiation came to be known between self-directed learning (typical of adults) and guided learning (typical of children). As Knowles said, “taking the assumption regarding dependency versus self-directedness, a six-year-old may be highly self-directing in learning the rules of a game but quite dependent in learning to use a calculator; on the other hand, a forty-year-old may be very dependent in learning to program a computer but completely self-directing in learning to repair a piece of furniture” (Knowles, 1980, p. 43). I need to be aware of whether my learners are self-directed learners or more dependent - and this may be different according to age and topic. Choosing programs that can be flexible and providing options for a diverse group of learners will be important.

In The Art of Coaching Teams, the author made a statement that was impactful to me: “adults must feel safe to learn” (Aguilar, 2016, p. 189). While this applies to children as well, of course, we spend less time thinking about making adults feel safe in their professional learning environments. In my own work experience, I have found that many teachers are uncomfortable with certain forms of technology and are anxious about the increasing requirements to learn new skills. Sometimes administrators introduce a new program or technological expectation and teachers are worried about receiving a poor evaluation if they struggle to implement the new goals. As I work with teachers in their professional development, I want to try to keep this in mind and help them to feel less anxious and more comfortable - this reading helped me to notice that they will learn more easily if they feel supported.

Aguilar, E. (2016). Supporting adult learners. In The art of coaching teams: Building resilient communities that transform schools (pp. 183–204). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Knowles, M. S. (1980). The modern practice of adult education: From pedagogy to andragogy. Cambridge, London: The Adult Education Company.