Andragogy of Educational Technology Training
Effective Professional Development Using Androgogical Principles When designing technology training for adult learners, it’s important to recognize that adults have different needs, motivations, and learning styles compared to younger students (Fox, 2020). Andragogy, the art and science of teaching adults, is a term popularized by Malcolm Knowles in the 1960s. Knowles’ six assumptions of adult learners provide a foundation for effective professional development (PD) design (Fox, 2020). Understanding and applying andragogy principles is crucial for improving educational technology training for adult learners. First, adults need to understand why they should learn something before investing time and effort (Fox, 2020). For example, when introducing a new learning management system, trainers should demonstrate how it will facilitate communication with students and parents. Additionally, adult learners are more likely to learn effectively when given autonomy (Fox, 2020). T...