Pedagogy and Androgogy

Schön stressed the distinction between the teaching of children (pedagogy) and adult learning (androgogy).

Pedagogy

Pedagogy is akin to training. It encourages convergent thinking and rote learning. It is compulsory, centred on the teacher and the imparting of information with minimal control by the learner. This is reminiscent of the process of medical teaching up to the level of vocational training.

Androgogy

Androgogy, by contrast, is about education as freedom. It encourages divergent thinking and active learning. Whatever the curriculum content, there is uncertainty about the outcome. Learning and teaching roles are blurred. It emphasises the assimilation of learning with life experience and peer learning. It is voluntary, learner-orientated and opens up vistas for continuing learning. Adults need to feel independent and in control of their learning.

Pedagogy	Androgogy
compulsory	voluntary
teacher-centred	learner-orientated
minimal control by the learner	education as freedom
training for life	assimilation of learning with life experience
encourages convergent thinking	encourages divergent thinking
rote learning	active learning
dependency on educator's learning	learning and teaching roles are blurred
imparting of information	opens vistas for continuing learning and peer learning uncertainty about the outcome, whatever the curriculum content

GP Trainees

Trainees appear to be in a transitional state from pedagogy to androgogy and from course-oriented working patterns to self-directed continuing learning. Mismanagement of the transition can inhibit the emergence of suitable continuing learning patterns, with long-term consequences for the new GP's career.