A Study On Malcom S. Knowles' Adult Self-directed Learning

Malcolm Shepherd Knowles is an attractive figure to those who study and major in history of education. Knowles is a well-known andragogist in the US and in the world in the 20th century.It is a basic research topic to study the adult self-directed learning of Knowles.In the great system of andragogy set up by Knowles,the speculation and exploration about adult self-directed learning is a necessary and important part. Anyhow, due to the traditional ideals to give superiority to common education and pay less attention to adult education , especially the theory of self-directed learning by Knowles. In this paper , by collecting and understanding a great many documents and materials , learning from the study achievements in the same field at home and broad , the writer tries to draw an outline of Knowles'adult self-directed learning theory through undertaking a specialized , complete , deep and systematic study on it.This thesis is divided into four parts. The first part discusses the thought base of Knowles'adult self-directed learning theory . Background comes first , which includes the motivation of the technological innovation , the change of economic structure and the increase of leisure time ; Then practical start comes next , which is the model of return education , his activities in his early years , practicing adult education and so on. The philosophy basis comes last , which contains humanism , progressivism , existencism and behaviorism.The second part analyzes Knowles'adult self-directed learning ideas in greater detail. This part consists of five aspects as follows: his defination about the conception of adult , andragogy and adult self-directed learning ; four assumptions about adult learners , which contain the shift of self-concept , the innovation of experience , matching the roles and"problem-centered"learning contents ; the process of adult self-directed learning ,the necessity, principles and methods of Knowles'adult self-directed learning theory and the features of his theory . They are as follows : praticalism of his learning process , humanism of his learning ideals and particularity of adult teachers.In the third part of the paper , the writer gives a brief and objective appraisal to the contributions and limitations of Knowles'adult self-directed learning theory . And the last part of the paper inquires into the significance of his theory . They are as follows : to establish a human concept of the adult education , change adult education mode , give experience in learning , strengthen the practicality of teaching adult contents , cultivate the abilities of adult self-directed learning and , help adults recognize and develop their social roles to grasp their role technology.