MALCOLM SHEPHERD KNOWLES – FOUNDER OF ANDRAGOGY IN THE USA

The study deals with the concept of andragogy created in the USA in 1970 by Malcolm S. Knowles, the best-known and most prominent representative of andragogy in the USA. In the early days of his theoretical work, he was most influenced by Eduard C. Lindeman and Dorothy Hewitt. However, he was mainly inspired to develop the andragogical concept by the prominent Yugoslav (Serbian) andragogist Dušan Savićević, thanks to whom he became familiar with the idea of andragogy in Europe. Similar to European andragogy, Malcolm S. Knowles' andragogy is based on the characteristics of the adult, the specifics of adult education, and learning. Malcolm S. Knowles pointed out that adults need to know why they are learning and how it will affect them. Adults are autonomous and self-directed, they have lifelong experience, they take a practical approach to learning, they take a problem-solving approach to learning, and they want to apply new knowledge and skills immediately. He also drew attention to the need to show respect for adults. Malcolm S. Knowles redefined andragogy as a newly emerging technology of adult education (learning), based on the concept of informal adult education, and characterized the basic assumptions of adult education and learning.