There are four component parts that form the theoretical framework of this chapter, which contribute to the way in which I have conducted my practice in adult education/andragogy in support and preparation of adult learners as they do their work in the field. These include: Knowles’ seven editions of his book on the adult learner, with the last three being with associates; my work on the building blocks of adult learning foundations; the living lecture connected with the learning theory related to large group meetings; and, trust as it is exemplified by teacher trust of learners along with reciprocal trust of teachers on the part of learners.
Knowles’ Seven Editions of the Adult Learner
Knowles (1973) focused a full application of his conception of andragogy toward the Human Resource Development (HRD) Movement. He worked vigorously in the corporate sector and thus saw the importance of testing and relating andragogy within it. He divided the listing of numerous learning theorists into the categories of mechanistic and organismic. His identifying andragogy as being in the organismic category helped cast, clarify and nudge the philosophy toward a more humane frame. This was the first edition of his book entitled The adult learner: A neglected species.
Knowles (1978a), in this second edition of The Adult Learner, updated and added to his application of andragogy in HRD. He continued to be involved very much with corporate adult education and added some information that helped to clarify what was then the current situation.
Despite the hesitancy that some had about Knowles involvement in andragogy, Knowles (1984) third edition of The Adult Learner relating to HRD appeared at this time. He was still actively engaged in the field, although he had retired from his professorship some years earlier in 1978. Knowles updated and added to his application of andragogy to HRD in this third edition. He continued to be involved very much with corporate adult education and added some more information.
Knowles (1990) came out with the fourth edition of The Adult Learner book. In it he added the sixth assumption that adults need to know a reason that makes sense to them as to why they should learn some particular thing. This edition was the strongest. In this volume he indicated the crucial importance of equalness, openness, democratic, realness, genuineness, prizing, acceptance, and empathic understanding on the part of the andragogue. The andragogical teacher/facilitator accepts each participant (student) as a person of worth, respects his feelings and ideas, and seeks to build relationships of mutual trust and exposes his own feelings regarding the relationship between the teacher and adult learner.
Knowles et al. (1998) published this fifth edition within a few months after Knowles’ death. His collaborators appeared to be more intent on putting forward their own point of view of andragogy than preserving the full scope of the comprehensive perspective for which Knowles was known.
Knowles et al. (2005) presented a sixth edition of this work on Knowles’ andragogy, but it was mainly provided for an HRD audience that was interested in moving andragogy forward on a track that was somewhat at variance of Knowles’ original work. This, of course, was published eight years after the death of Knowles.
Knowles et al. (2011) presented a seventh edition of this work on Knowles’ andragogy, fourteen years after Knowles’ passing from this earth. This volume had the six assumptions and eight process elements ultimately included in his andragogical perspective, which will be identified in the next section. A unique element of this edition among other things is the inclusion of chapters 19 and 20 on various aspects of andragogy, by John A. Henschke (and Mary Cooper [deceased]); and Jost Reischmann.
The materials in these seven books form a major part of the ‘warp-and-woof’ of my take on being the best adult educator I am able. Of course, my own interpretation and perspective become part of how I have operationalized my conduct and practice in the field of adult education.