The Value of Andragogy and Pedagogy Writing Assignment

The Value of Andragogy and Pedagogy
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The Value of Andragogy and Pedagogy
How adults learn has been the key issue amongst practitioners and scholars since the inception of adult learning as a field of professional practice in the first quarter of the 20th century (Merriam, 2001). Studies indicate that young learners are better placed to acquire knowledge faster than their older counterparts do. In this context, andragogy is a learning theory that is formulated to handle specific adult needs. On the other hand, pedagogy is that theory that focuses on learning that manifests itself in children. The teacher takes the prerogative for making the relevant decisions regarding what has to be learned, when the learning will take place and how it will be learned.
Andragogy is superior to pedagogy from the perspective of the learner because it is self-directed and as an act of maturation. There is no overdependence on the teacher. As people realize growth, they accumulate enough experience, which is a recipe to learning that is realized through simulation exercises, problem-solving cases, laboratory experiments and field experiences, unlike the pedagogical approach, which is of little worth. Andragogy does not require any form of force for learners to gain interest in learning rather there is readiness whenever there is a need to, provided they are provided with the necessary tools to make this happen. Learners in andragogy envision education as a way of increasing competence in order to realize their potential to the fullest, which is unlike in the other approach, which sees education as being of benefit in the future. Therefore, learners tend to be subject-centered in their learning orientation (Knowles, n.d).
Another major difference between andragogy and pedagogy in adult learning is the learning behavior. Adults tend to be more self-directed and this implies that they usually control wha...