Andragogy refers to methods and principles used in adult education. Therefore, andragogy literally means "leading men adult males ", whereas " pedagogy " literally means "leading children". There are many different theories in the areas of learning, teaching and training. Andragogy commonly is defined as the art or science of teaching adults or helping adults learn. In contrast to pedagogy , or the teaching of children, andragogy is based on a humanistic conception of self-directed and autonomous learners where teachers are defined as facilitators of learning.
Although Malcolm Knowles proposed andragogy as a theory, others posit that there is no single theory of adult learning or andragogy. In the literature where adult learning theory is often identified as a principle or an assumption, there are a variety of different approaches and theories that are also evolving in view of evolving higher education instruction, workplace training, new technology and online learning Omoregie, Malcolm Knowles identified these adult learner characteristics related to the motivation of adult learning.
Blaschke described Malcolm Knowles' theory as "self-directed" learning. The goals include helping learners develop the capacity for self-direction, supporting transformational learning and promoting "emancipatory learning and social action" Blaschke, , p. Although Knowles' andragogy is a well-known theory in the English-speaking world, his theory has an ancillary role internationally. This is especially true in European countries where andragogy is a term used to refer to a field of systematic reflection.
The acceptance of andragogy in European countries, according to St. Further, the definition of andragogy and its application to adult learning is more variable currently due to both the impact of globalization and the rapid expansion of adult online learning. The term was originally coined by German educator Alexander Kapp in Andragogy was developed into a theory of adult education by Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy.
Knowles asserted that andragogy Greek: "man-leading" should be distinguished from the more commonly used term pedagogy Greek: "child-leading". Knowles collected ideas about a theory of adult education from the end of World War II until he was introduced to the term "androgogy".
