Biography of Malcolm Knowles Essay

IntroductionOne cannot mention Adult reading without making reference to the internationally reputable big(p) commandist by the name of Malcolm Shepherd Knowles. Malcolm is renowned for leading both as an academician and practitioner who played a crucial role in the developing and the application of gravid teaching across the globe (George, 2011).BackgroundMalcolm Shepherded Knowles was natural in August 24, 1913 in Livingstone, Montana. His parents were Dr. and Mrs. Dr. A. D. Knowles. He loved to participate in sports and outdoor activities from an early age. In addition to this, he was an avid observe during his youthful years. He was also an academically astute student. This was made plain when he calibrated at the top of his class from the Palm shore High School in 1930. Consequently, he was admitted to the distinguished Harvard University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1934.During his stay at this prestigious institution, he took courses in phil osophy, literature, history, political science, ethics and international fairness (George, 2011). He was also fascinated with extracurricular activities. This made him to be name the president of the Harvard Liberal Club, general secretary of the New England Model confederation of Nations, and President of the Phillips Brooks House. His involvement in voluntary service for the latter(prenominal) got him working with boys order and this formed a crucial platform for his bountiful career in grown education and social service.CareerMalcolm Knowles went on to work with the National Youth Administration in Massachusetts where he was responsible for establishing the skills requirements for local employers and establish a course for the entire understand body and teach those skills to the young people. In the course of this work he met professor Eduard Lindeman who went on to become Malcolms mentor in self-aggrandizing education. As he continued in this work he conjoin Hulda Forn ell whom he had met at Harvard. In 1940, he assumed the role of theater coach of Adult Education. This enabled him to set up an association school for bads at the capital of Massachusetts YMCA. It is from this position that he was drafted into the Second World War in 1943. In 1946, he took the position of Director of Adult Education at the YMCA. He proceeded to pursue his Masters degree in Arts at the University of Chicago and graduated in 1949. Under the mentorship of Cyril O.Houle he became executive director of the Adult Education Association of the USA which had been newly formed. He get together the Boston University in 1959 as an associate professor. During this time, he was very instrumental in launching a new graduate program in the field of with child(p) education. He later joined the Fielding tweak University in Massachusetts where he continued to teach until his retirement in 1979 (George, 2011). Despite the fact that he had retired, Knowles had already achieved hi s PhD continued to be regard in the field of Adult Education. During this time he became a Professor Emeritus at the North Carolina State University where he continued to frame books and articles regarding cock-a-hoop education. Dr. Knowles passed away on Thanksgiving Day in 1997 at his home in Fayetteville, Arkansas due to stroke.Malcolm Knowless ContributionsMalcolms contributions in education can never go unmentioned in especially in the field of magnanimous education. He created a model which is still in use today in the field of adult education. This was the speculation of andragogy. This theory was based on the differences in the learning styles between the children and the adults. This theory was veritable after a thorough study of humanistic clinical psychological science and the relationships which were derived from it. Thus, this theory was based on five basic assumptions about the features of adult learners (Malcolm, 1950). These features brought out a very differen t view from the features which were observed in children. These features included the following aspects (Malcolm, 1950) the self-concept which is a someone usually, matures over time from possessing a dependent personality towards one of being a self-directed one. understand this is the second feature which usually brings with it a huge amount of put through that an individual has gained over time.Readiness to learn the primary motivation for a persons readiness to earn may change from being one of passion of knowledge in his youth to one of eagerness to develop their social standing. Lastly, orientation to learning, as a person matures, his position of problems and urgencies shift to one of a frantic nature. Thus a person starts focusing more on his problems than the subject of his problems. Dr. Malcolm grounded the concept of adult education by bringing on board the principle of Adult Education. This came to the forrard as part o his Masters thesis as he was searching for a coherent and comprehensive theory of adult learning when he hit upon the escaped theory of adult education. He held the opinion that an organized course was usually better for new learning of an intensive nature while an informal association or club provided the best opportunity for practicing and refining the things which were taught (Malcolm, 1950).Dr. Malcolm spent a further 14 years producing major texts in the field of adult education. His works include the Modern Practice of Adult Education (1970) and The Adult Learner (1973). These texts suspensor to establish him as a central manakin in adult education in the United States of America. Through them, the theory of andragogy was further popularized. He also recognized the value and the importance of learning communication skills. This is be example he believed that humans have to interact with each other on a daily basis, therefore the knowledge of communication should be included as part of their curriculum. In order to aid an adult in the society, Dr. Malcolm believed that adult education should be able to enable the adults to develop a piddle reason of them through learning about their own needs and selves.Secondly, adults should go a mindset of acceptance, love and respect towards others. This would assistant them to establish intelligent relationships with others in the society. Adults should also possess an accepting attitude towards change. Adults should also figure out solutions to a general cause instead of fretting over the cause itself. This would help them to develop what he called an active and logical mind that would help them to make any situation and make it better. Adults should also have an understanding of the society and be proactive in instituting social change. This can be done by making every adult aware of the grievous issues such as political, economic, international affairs and the business aspects of life.ConclusionIn conclusion, Dr. Malcolm Shepherd Knowles played a major role in the developing and establishment of adult education. Despite the fact that he is no seven-day alive, his work, ideas and innovations still live on and inspire more strategies in adult learning. His efforts led to the development of the Theories of Andragogy and Self-Directed Learning (George, 2011). In addition to this, he was the first person to chart the rise and progress of the entire adult education movement which took center stage in the United States of America. This apprised the process that led to the development of general theory and practice of informal adult education. Dr. Knowles remains to be a great inspiration to some(prenominal) academicians who have benefited from his ideas as well as the professionals in the field of adult education.ReferencesGeorge, W. (2011). Malcolm Shepherd Knowles A History of His Thought (Education in aCompetitive and Globalizing World). London Nova scientific discipline . Malcolm, S. K. (1950). Informal Adult Education. C hicago Association Press.