The Adult Learner, Fifth Edition: The Definitive Classic in Adult Education and Human Resource Development (Managing Cultural Differences) [Paperback]

Malcolm S. Knowles Ph.D. (Author), Elwood F. Holton III Ed.D. (Author), Richard A. Swanson Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 20, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0884151158 | ISBN-13: 978-0884151159 | Edition: 5

As leading authorities on adult education and training, Elwood Holton and Richard Swanson have revised Malcolm Knowles' exemplary work on adult learning. While retaining the best from the past editions, they incorporate the latest developments in adult learning theory and practice into this major revision.

This new book is divided into three parts. The first part contains the classic chapters that describe the roots and principles of andragogy. The second part contains four new chapters that examine:
*The latest perspectives on andragogy
*The application of andragogy in human resource
development
*New advancements in understanding adult learning
*Practical applications of adult learning theory

The new chapters incorporate developments from recent research in adult learning, human resource development, cognitive psychology, adult development, and educational psychology. The last part of the book contains an updated selection of topical readings that advance the theory and practice of adult learning.

This new edition is an ideal introductory book for adult learning practitioners and students.

The late Malcolm Knowles' cornerstone work on adult learning theory and practices is updated with the latest advances in the field. In this new edition, Elwood Holton and Richard Swanson build upon Knowles' foundation to give:
* The latest perspectives on adult learning and its application in adult education and human resource development.
* New developments in understanding adult learning (andragogy in practice)
* Methods for developing effective adult learning programs
* The basics of learning theories
* Why and how teaching adults is difference from teaching children
* A self-diagnostic tool (ready to photcopy) to determine your skill level as a trainer

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A classic in the field of adult learning."
-Michael Marquardt, George Washington University

Book Description

New edition of a great classic in the field. This text has been fully-revised incorporating the latest advancements in adult-learning. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: Gulf Professional Publishing; 5 edition (August 20, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0884151158
• ISBN-13: 978-0884151159
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #371,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

132 of 136 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential read for HRD professionals and adult educators, March 18, 1999

By 

"dazinuk" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Adult Learner, Fifth Edition: The Definitive Classic in Adult Education and Human Resource Development (Managing Cultural Differences) (Paperback)

For those new to Knowles work, this book really is a 'must'. It takes the reader through the essentials of adult education, both in the traditional environments of adult education and in settings such as the workplace. It provides a theoretical framework for understanding the adult learning issues faced by professional educators each day, and also offers significant guidance on future practice. To those who have read past editions of the book, as I have, you will find the Swanson and Holton work true to the spirit of Knowles, and the two authors have introduced more than enough new material to justify buying this Fifth Edition.

53 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very comprehensive look at adult learning theory, May 10, 2001

By 

M. H. Bayliss "book queen" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Adult Learner, Fifth Edition: The Definitive Classic in Adult Education and Human Resource Development (Managing Cultural Differences) (Paperback)

This book is like a one-stop shopping guide to Adult education. It is so comprehensive that I doubt it leaves out one development in the history of adult education. My only warning is that the opening chapters which basically trace many theories of learning (both adult and traditional) are hard to get through -- it reads more like a research paper that summarizes every major educational theory since the beginning of time. But, if you don't want to know that much, you can simply skip these chapters and get right to the meat of the adult learning theories which are more appropos. For those who need a quick primer on learning theories, you'll love the first few chapters for their abundance of quick summary information. A useful guide to adult education.

66 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent primer of Adult Learning Theory, March 22, 2000

By 

Steve Semler "Looking for Practicality" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Adult Learner, Fifth Edition: The Definitive Classic in Adult Education and Human Resource Development (Managing Cultural Differences) (Paperback)

Malcolm Knowles is known as the "Grandfather of Adult Education" in many circles, and this update of his original book does him justice. I recommend the book as a primary resource for people looking for information about how adults learn (adult learning theory), as well as what works and how to make it work in different situations.