The Adult Learner, Sixth Edition: The Definitive Classic in Adult Education and Human Resource Development

390 Pages·2005·1.36 MB·english

by  Ph.D.

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ADULT
THE
LEARNER
SIXTH EDITION
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SIXTH EDITION
ADULT
THE
LEARNER
The Definitive Classic in
Adult Education and
Human Resource Development
MALCOLM S. KNOWLES ■ ELWOOD F. HOLTON III
RICHARD A. SWANSON
Amsterdam • Boston • Heidelberg • London • New York • Oxford • Paris
• San Diego • San Francisco • Singapore • Sydney • Tokyo
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Elsevier
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This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Copyright © 2005, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Previous editions Copyright © 1973,
1978, 1984, 1990, 1998 by Butterworth-Heinemann.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Knowles, Malcolm Shepherd, 1913-
The adult learner : the definitive classic in adult education and human resource development /
Malcolm S. Knowles, Elwood F. Holton III, and Richard A. Swanson.– 6th ed.
p.cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7506-7837-2 (alk. paper)
1. Adult learning. 2. Adult education. 3. Training. I. Holton, Ed, 1957-II. Swanson,
Richard A., 1942- III. Title.
LC5225.L42K56 2005
374–dc22
2004024356
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 0-7506-7837-2
Printed in the United States of America
04 05 06 07 08 09 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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D
EDICATION
Malcolm S. Knowles, the Father of Andragogy in the United
States, died on November 27, 1997.
Malcolm was one of the world’s leading scholar–practitioners of
adult learning. He was a member of a generation that experienced
the fullest range of character-building phases the United States has
known: a massive influx of immigrants, several wars, an economic
depression, waves of technological advances, the civil rights move-
ment, the dominance of the knowledge worker, and an optimism
about the human spirit. While Malcolm participated in all this, he
was one of the thinkers and doers rising above the milieu and point-
ing the way for a dynamic democracy. Equivalent leaders of his gen-
eration, in such areas as economics, quality improvement, religion,
and psychology, have finished their work and their legacy lives on in
the next generation. Malcolm’s early understanding of the impor-
tance of adult learning has provided insight that will guide the pro-
fessions dedicated to adult learning into the next millennium.
This revised sixth edition of Malcolm’s 1973 book is a testimony
to his own learning journey and his personal confidence in the indi-
vidual learner. In honor of Malcolm S. Knowles, the Academy of
Human Resource Development has named its doctoral-dissertation-
of-the-year award in his name. Those wishing to make a donation to
this student-award endowment should contact the Academy.
v
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Elwood F. Holton III, Ed.D, is the Jones S. Davis Distinguished
Professor of Human Resource Development and Adult Education at
Louisiana State University, where he coordinates the B.S., M.S., and
Ph.D. degree programs in HRD/AE. He is the author and editor of
numerous books and articles on learning and human resource devel-
opment as well as the founding editor of Human Resource Develop-
ment Review. Dr. Holton is also a Past-President of the Academy of
Human Resource Development. He is an expert on adult learning
applications in public and private settings and consults extensively
with organizations in both sectors.
Richard A. Swanson, Ed.D., is Professor of Human Resource
Development and Adult Education at the University of Minnesota.
He has wide-ranging teaching and consulting experience and has
published extensively in the areas of learning and human resource
development. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the
University of Illinois College of Education and has been inducted
into both the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of
Fame and the Human Resource Development Scholar Hall of Fame.
Dr. Swanson is a leading authority on how to develop and unleash
human potential in organizations.
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Contents
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
c h a p t e r 1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Part 1: The Roots of Andragogy 6
C h a p t e r 2
Exploring the World of Learning Theory . . . . . . . . . . . .7
C h a p t e r 3
Theories of Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
C h a p t e r 4
A Theory of Adult Learning: Andragogy . . . . . . . . . . . .35
C h a p t e r 5
Theories of Teaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
C h a p t e r 6
An Andragogical Process Model for Learning . . . . . . .115
Part 2: Advancements in Adult Learning 139
C h a p t e r 7
Andragogy in Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140
vii
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C h a p t e r 8
Adult Learning within Human Resource
Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165
C h a p t e r 9
New Perspectives on Andragogy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183
C h a p t e r 1 0
Beyond Andragogy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204
C h a p t e r 1 1
The Future of Andragogy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231
Part 3: Practice in Adult Learning 239
C h a p t e r 1 2
Whole-Part-Whole Learning Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .240
C h a p t e r 1 3
From Teacher to Facilitator of Learning . . . . . . . . . . .251
C h a p t e r 1 4
Making Things Happen by Releasing the
Energy of Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .255
C h a p t e r 1 5
Some Guidelines for the Use of Learning Contracts . . .265
C h a p t e r 1 6
Core Competency Diagnostic and Planning Guide . . . .272
C h a p t e r 1 7
Personal Adult Learning Style Inventory . . . . . . . . . . .282
C h a p t e r 1 8
Training Delivery Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . .296
C h a p t e r 1 9
A Model for Developing Employee Work
Effectiveness in New Roles and Environments . . . . . . .308
viii
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References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .321
Author Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .361
Subject Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .366
ix