2. Andragogy Art and science of helping adults learn
Introduced in 1968 by Malcolm Knowles
Separates the field of adult
education from the education
of children (pedagogy)

3. Pedagogy vs. Andragogy Teacher-oriented Dependency Subject-centered
Externally motivated
Self-oriented
Self-dependent
Problem-centered
Internally motivated

4. Who are today’s adult learners?
Over 24 and beyond
Midcareer executive to unskilled worker
Unemployed: layoffs and outsourcing
Women returning to college
Veterans seeking new career path
Nontraditional students with plenty of life, work, and family experiences

5. Why do adults return to school?
Develop skills to stay competitive
Improve employability
Increase earning power
Prepare for a career change
Fulfill personal goals
Inspire children and set example

6. Why do adult learners need to complete degrees?
U.S. ranks #12 for degree attainment for year-olds (Dept. of Ed., 2014)
Unemployment for year-olds with a degree was only 4% contrasted with 13% for those lacking a degree (NCES, 2013)
Earnings for degreed year-olds averaged $45,500 compared with only $28,000 for those without a degree (Pew, 2014)

7. Workforce Realities
STEM jobs projected to grow by 9 million between 2012 and 2022 (BLS, 2014)

8. Learning Needs of Adult Learners
Need to understand importance of what they are learning
Need to know how their learning relates to their own best interest
Need to use their own experiences to learn

9. Adult Learner Barriers
Situational (family responsibilities, finances, work conflicts)
Institutional (faculty availability, course offerings, support systems)
Dispositional (fear of failure, remediation needs, perseverance)
(Osam, Bergman, & Cumberland, 2016)

10. Adult Learner Success and Retention
Accelerated transition programs that focus on learning style and study skills
Corequisite courses to provide remediation while earning college-level credit
Support systems designed for needs of adult students (childcare, transportation assistance, stress management)

11. Adult Learners in the Classroom
Group activities
Case studies
Project-based learning
Research assignments
Peer review
Portfolio development

12. Supporting Adult Learners
Student services focused on needs of adult learners (advising, financial aid, etc…)
Faculty trained to integrate relevant remediation into college-level courses
Teaching and learning communities dedicated to adults
(Miller, 2016)

13. Group Discussion: Integrating Andragogy into Adult Learner Programs
How do you integrate andragogy in your adult learner programs?
What techniques and methods can create an adult-friendly environment?