Malcolm Knowles

1. Malcolm Knowles By. Elizabeth Mattison

2. Evaluation of Previous Knowledge • What does anyone remember about Malcolm Knowles? • Can anyone name any of the 6 principles of Andragogy?

3. Malcolm’s Life • Born in 1913 and raised in Montana. • His father was a vet and from a young age, Malcolm frequently accompanied his father on trips to farms and ranches • “While driving to and from these locations, we engaged in serious discussions about all sorts of subjects, such as the meaning of life, right and wrong, religion, politics, success, happiness and everything a growing child is curious about. I distinctly remember feeling like a companion rather than an inferior. My father often asked what I thought about before he said what he thought, and gave me the feeling that he respected my mind. (Knowles 1989: 2) “

4. Malcolm’s Life cont’d • His mother was also a positive influence in Malcolm’s life who taught him to be a more tender and caring person. • Boy scouts was also a huge influence on young Malcolm’s life teaching him to knowledge and life skills as well as training him to be a leader in his life.

5. Malcolm’s Education • Malcolm went to Harvard College on scholarship in 1930 and took courses in philosophy, literature, history, political science, ethics, and international law. • He also met his wife, Hulda, there! • In 1943, in order to avoid being drafted into the Navy, Knowles undertook the masters program for Adult Education at the University of Chicago . • Malcolm completed his MA in 1949

6. Malcolm’s Employment History • In 1935, newlywed Malcolm Knowles got a job at the new National Youth Administration in Massachusettswhere he found out what skills local employers were looking for in workers and then created adult education courses to teach these skills and recruiting people to take these courses • While working here, Knowles met Eduard Lindeman who took Knowles under his wing and became his mentor and inspired Knowles work and ideas throughout the rest of his life

7. Malcolm’s Employment History Cont’d • In 1940 Knowles was hired as the director of Adult Education at the Boston YMCA • When he moved to Chicago in 1943 to finish up his schooling he became the director of Adult Education at the Central Chicago YMCA instead • In 1951 he became executive director of the newly formed Adult Education Association of the USA. • In 1959 he became an associate professor at Boston University of adult education and worked there for 14 years before retiring in 1979.

8. Socio-Cultural Context • Malcolm Knowles came into the adult education world just as it was starting to become wildly popular. • People were starving for ideas about how to improve adult education and make it worth their wild and Malcolm was just the one to come up with some….

9. Malcolm’s Contributions to AE • Knowles is known as the “Father of Andragogy” • The Greek root andr means “man not boy” • Believed that adults needed to be taught in a different way than children • Created the 6 assumptions of Andragogy

10. 6 Assumptions of Andragogy • 1. The Learners Need to Know • 2. Self-Concept of the Learner • 3. Prior Experience of the Learner • 4. Readiness to Learn • Orientation to Learning • Motivation to Learn

11. 6 Assumptions of Andragogy • 1. The Learners Need to Know- why, what, how • 2. Self-Concept of the Learner- autonomous, self-directing • 3. Prior Experience of the Learner-resource • 4. Readiness to Learn-life related • Orientation to Learning- problem centered, contextual • Motivation to Learn- intrinsic value

12. Impact on Adult Education • Put together a lot of different ideas about education in a clear, concise, 6 point theory • Changed the way many institutions approached adult education • Many became more facilitators of learning than lecturing type of teachers • Even some child/youth educators started using parts of andragogy

13. How does it relate to our class? • We have learned the 6 principles of Andragogy… A LOT  • I feel like our class has been based on the andragogical principles • Dr. Crosby more as facilitator than lecture based learning • Talk about what we think is important and our opinions are valued • Tell us how it will apply to our lives

14. What about Christ? • This is the model that Christ seemed to use with his disciples and followers • Examples? • We can use this to lead bible studies and small groups in the college and career settings • Any other ways?