Malcolm Knowles
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Shepherd Knowles (August 24, 1913–November 27, 1997) was an American
Adult
Educator, famous for the adoption of the theory of Andragogy
—initially a term coined by the German
teacher Alexander Kapp
. Knowles is credited with being a fundamental influence in the development of the Humanist
Learning Theory and the use of learner constructed contracts or plans to guide learning experiences.
Born in Montana
to Dr. and Mrs. A. D. Knowles, Knowles was an avid boy scout
in his youth. The family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida
and he graduated from Palm Beach High School in 1930. He earned a scholarship to Harvard University
where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1934. Shortly afterwards, he worked with the National Youth Administration
in Massachusetts
and was married to Hulda Fornell whom he met while studying at Harvard. In 1940, he assumed the position of Director of Adult Education at the Boston YMCA
until he was drafted into the United States Navy
in 1943. In 1946, he moved to Chicago
to work as the Director of Adult Education at the YMCA
while working on his M.A.
at the University of Chicago
, which he earned in 1949. From 1951-1959 he served as executive director of the Adult Education Association of the USA and pursued his PhD
at the University of Chicago. In 1959, he accepted a faculty appointment at Boston University
as an associate professor of adult education with tenure. He spent 14 years there. He became a member of the faculty of Education at North Carolina State University
in 1974 to complete his final four years of academic work prior to retirement. After retiring, he remained active in the field into the 1990s. He taught at Fielding Graduate University
, Santa Barbara, CA (which offers degrees in clinical psychology
and related subjects) and at the University of Arkansas
.
He died in Fayetteville, Arkansas
, of a stroke
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Adult
Adult
An adult is a human being or living organism that is of relatively mature age, typically associated with sexual maturity and the attainment of reproductive age....
Educator, famous for the adoption of the theory of Andragogy
Andragogy
Andragogy consists of learning strategies focused on adults. It is often interpreted as the process of engaging adult learners with the structure of learning experience. The term ‘andragogy’ has been used in different times and countries with various connotations. Nowadays there exist mainly three...
—initially a term coined by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
teacher Alexander Kapp
Alexander Kapp
Alexander Kapp in 1833, originally introduced the term andragogy. Andragogy consists of learning strategies focused on adults. It is often interpreted as the process of engaging adult learners in the structure of the learning experience. Later, the term andragogy developed into a theory of adult...
. Knowles is credited with being a fundamental influence in the development of the Humanist
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
Learning Theory and the use of learner constructed contracts or plans to guide learning experiences.
Born in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
to Dr. and Mrs. A. D. Knowles, Knowles was an avid boy scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
in his youth. The family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and he graduated from Palm Beach High School in 1930. He earned a scholarship to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1934. Shortly afterwards, he worked with the National Youth Administration
National Youth Administration
The National Youth Administration was a New Deal agency in the United States that focused on providing work and education for Americans between the ages of 16 and 24. It operated from 1935 to 1939 as part of the Works Progress Administration . Following the passage of the Reorganization Act of...
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and was married to Hulda Fornell whom he met while studying at Harvard. In 1940, he assumed the position of Director of Adult Education at the Boston YMCA
Boston Young Men's Christian Association
The Boston Young Men's Christian Association was founded in 1851 in Boston, Massachusetts, as the first American chapter of the YMCA.- Central Branch; Huntington Ave. :...
until he was drafted into the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in 1943. In 1946, he moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to work as the Director of Adult Education at the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
while working on his M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, which he earned in 1949. From 1951-1959 he served as executive director of the Adult Education Association of the USA and pursued his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
at the University of Chicago. In 1959, he accepted a faculty appointment at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
as an associate professor of adult education with tenure. He spent 14 years there. He became a member of the faculty of Education at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
in 1974 to complete his final four years of academic work prior to retirement. After retiring, he remained active in the field into the 1990s. He taught at Fielding Graduate University
Fielding Graduate University
Fielding Graduate University, previously Fielding Graduate Institute, and The Fielding Institute, is an accredited, nonprofit post-graduate institution of higher learning based in Santa Barbara, California, USA....
, Santa Barbara, CA (which offers degrees in clinical psychology
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development...
and related subjects) and at the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
.
He died in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
, of a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
.
External links
- Smith, M. K. (2002). Malcolm Knowles, informal adult education, self-direction and andragogy, the encyclopedia of informal education, www.infed.org/thinkers/et-knowl.htm.
- Fiorini, Deborah (2003). Malcolm Knowles' Personal Vitae