Smith Article

Knowles:  A Historical Perspective

In pursuit of knowing the adult learner, I have dedicated myself to the study of andragogy, which in part we, as learners challenge ourselves in the seeking of truth for a purpose we decide as useful information.  Of course, this is on a continuum with pedagogy, which is another imparting their knowledge to us and then taking the information to apply to an end in which it is chosen for us to not only learn, but apply.

I found another article which ties Knowles into the larger picture trying to not only answer the question about what is "informal education," but how self-directed learning and the model in which he helped pen to paper shape modern day thoughts on Adult Educational practices with other theorists.

The article is a good and fast read.  If you are a student or looking for a compiled reference list for further study, please check at the bottom of the article for other interesting reads.

Please follow the link and all thoughts appreciated on this topic or about adult education, thanks.

Written by Mark K. Smith in 2002.

Smith, M. K. (2002) 'Malcolm Knowles, informal adult education, self-direction and andragogy', the encyclopedia of informal education, www.infed.org/thinkers/et-knowl.htm.