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Essay / Andragogy - 1949
AndragogyAndragogy is a term designating the practice of adult education. The term itself carries several generalized connotations, but the context that seems most relevant is its contrast with pedagogy. As a student transcends adolescence by acquiring new experiences and motivations, their learning methodologies must change with them. This is especially important and applicable given the new technology-based education opportunities available today and in the near future. Since it is a related topic, and likely something that every student has personal experience with, it is important to understand the fundamentals of pedagogy before defining and exploring andragogy. These principles include the sequential development of mental processes that enable a student to recognize, recall, evaluate, contrast, apply, create, understand, and evaluate acquired knowledge (Multiple Unknown, Pedagogy, 2012 ). The three general theoretical positions of educational theory: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism essentially summarize these critical skill sets (Multiple Unknown, Instructional Learning Theory, 2012). Behaviorism is the act of learning in response to acquisition and stimuli. This learning methodology has its origins in Aristotle's essay “Memory” focusing on the associations made by the mind during events such as lightning and thunder (Mergel, 1998). In education, behaviorism effectively adopts a quid pro quo system in classrooms by rewarding desired behaviors and discouraging inappropriate ones (Kristinsdóttir, 2008). Cognitivism is the learning involved in the construction of associations established through continuity and repetition. In layman's language, this is learning by memorization. There are two aspects...... middle of paper ......gn & Learning Theory. Retrieved from University of Saskatchewan: http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/mergel/brenda.htmSmith, M. (December 1, 2011). Andragogy. Retrieved from Encyclopedia of Informal Education: http://www.infed.org/lifelonglearning/b-andra.htmSmith, MK (2002). Malcolm Knowles, Informal adult education, autonomy and andragogy. Retrieved from Encyclopedia of Informal Education: http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-knowl.htmUnknown, M. (March 21, 2012). Educational learning theory. Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_theory_(education)Unknown, M. (March 17, 2012). Pedagogy. Retrieved March 16, 2012 from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PedagogyWang, V. (2011). Educational and andragogical teaching and learning with information and communication technologies. Hershey, Pennsylvania: IGI Global.