ABSTRACT

How do you tailor education to the learning needs of adults? Do they learn differently from children? How does their life experience inform their learning processes? These were the questions at the heart of Malcolm Knowles’ pioneering theory of andragogy which transformed education theory in the 1970s. The resulting principles of a self-directed, experiential, problem-centred approach to learning have been hugely influential and are still the basis of the learning practices we use today.

Understanding these principles is the cornerstone of increasing motivation and enabling adult learners to achieve. The 9th edition of The Adult Learner has been revised to include:

  • Updates to the book to reflect the very latest advancements in the field.
  • The addition of two new chapters on diversity and inclusion in adult learning, and andragogy and the online adult learner.
  • An updated supporting website. This website for the 9th edition of The Adult Learner will provide basic instructor aids including a PowerPoint presentation for each chapter.
  • Revisions throughout to make it more readable and relevant to your practices.

If you are a researcher, practitioner, or student in education, an adult learning practitioner, training manager, or involved in human resource development, this is the definitive book in adult learning you should not be without.

part 1|88 pages

Adult learning

chapter 1|5 pages

Introduction to adult learning

chapter 2|10 pages

Exploring the world of learning theory

chapter 3|33 pages

Andragogy

A theory of adult learning

chapter 5|17 pages

Andragogy in practice

Expanding the usefulness of the andragogical model

part 2|76 pages

The backdrop of learning and teaching theories

chapter 6|15 pages

Theories of learning

chapter 7|42 pages

Theories of teaching

part 3|107 pages

Advancements in adult learning

chapter 9|19 pages

New perspectives on andragogy

chapter 10|25 pages

Beyond andragogy

chapter 12|12 pages

Neuroscience and andragogy

chapter 13|11 pages

Andragogy and adult online learning

part 4|33 pages

International and future perspectives on andragogy

chapter 15|9 pages

European perspectives on adult learning

chapter 16|9 pages

Andragogy

History, meaning, context, and function

chapter 17|13 pages

The future of andragogy

part 5|42 pages

Tools and resources for implementing andragogy