Have you probably heard the word “pedagogy”, but what does it really mean in your daily life? Although it looks like a sophisticated term, pedagogy is not only for academics or training programs for teachers. It is actually used whenever someone builds a course, provides for a learning course or thinks about how to keep their learners committed. So, yes, pedagogy is widely used in elearning. Below, we will decompose it in simple terms so that you can create significant Elearning experiences. Let's see why understanding these ideas can improve your course design strategy.
Pedagogy vs. Andragogy in Elearning: differences and importance
What is pedagogy?
Pedagogy is simply the science of teaching. This is how we approach the process to help someone learn. The word itself comes from the old Greek “payagogos”, which originally referred to a person who led children to school and took care of them during his studies. Over time, the term has evolved to describe the methods and principles used to educate learners. Today, it is a central concept in the conception of education and learning.
Pedagogy includes teaching objectives, as you want learners to reach, the methods you use to teach – like videos, articles and games – and the way you understand your learners. In short, pedagogy is what guides each decision you take as a educator, instructor or educational designer. The best part is that pedagogy can be adapted to your audience, your objectives, tools and even your platform. Whether you create a course from scratch or restructure your content to improve commitment, pedagogy helps you make choices that really support learning.
What is Andragogy?
Now that we have covered what pedagogy is, let's talk about Andragogy, a very similar theory. Basically, it is a learning theory on adults that was popularized by Malcolm Knowles. While pedagogy traditionally concerns the way children learn (“pais” means “child” in ancient Greek), Andragogy is all about the way adults learn the best. After all, the word derives from a combination of the Greek words “Andr”, which means “adult man” and “agogos”, meaning “leader of”.
But why are there two distinct theories for the child and adult learners? Adults are learning with a lot of life experience and don't just want to be educated. They want to learn who respects what they already know, connects to real situations and gives them a certain control over how they learn. This is where Andragogy comes into play. These are the five key principles for adult learning, according to Knowles:
- Autonomy. Adults like to direct their own learning.
- Experience. They have previous knowledge, which has an impact on how they absorb new information.
- Relevance. If the concept of learning is not applicable to their lives or their work, they will probably ignore it.
- Preparation. Adults are more motivated to learn when they see a clear goal or need.
- Internal motivation. Unlike children, external awards, such as notes, are not always what motivates adult learners. Instead, personal growth or professional advancement seem to lead them.
Why do they count?
Know pedagogy and Andragogy in Elearning, as well as the difference between them, counts. When you understand the two theories, your learning design and teaching approach improves because you stop treating each learner in the same way.
Pedagogy, at the base, focuses on teaching children or those who have no prior knowledge of a subject. It is more structured, led by the instructor and assumes that the learner needs advice at each stage of the process. For example, the integration of new employees. They have no knowledge of your systems or processes, so they will probably need more instructions, regular checks and simple concepts.
On the other hand, let's say that you design an elearning course which is intended for training for experienced employees. There you should apply Andragogy. This is because adults do not want content they already know. Instead, they prefer examples of the real world and immediately apply knowledge. Most online learners are adults because they are employees who are increasing, professionals who take certifications or people who discover new interests. This is why understanding of Andragogy helps you build lessons that are really with them.
By understanding the two approaches, you can adjust your methods according to your audience or even combine the two theories. For example, a single course could start with an educational approach for basic concepts and gradually adopt Andragogical principles as learners acquire more knowledge. The result? Your learners get what they need at the right time, in the right way. Let us dive more to know why the knowledge of pedagogies makes all the difference in Elearning.
Why should you know the pedagogies in Elearning
Better learner's commitment
No one wants to conceive of a boring course. Whatever the modules you design, whether it is a course, a training program or an online class, your ultimate goal is to keep your learners committed. Since pedagogy is the basis of how people learn, applying it can completely change the impact of your content. When you apply the right pedagogy, your elearning can become more interactive, relevant and even fun. For example, you can use a constructivist approach, which means that your learners are not passive but explore, examine and obtain knowledge through real world scenarios.
Improvement of knowledge retention
If you have already wondered why you remember certain online courses better than others, it is mainly thanks to pedagogy. When educational designers and teachers understand the “why” behind different teaching methods and really apply educational principles, they can offer learning experiences that do not only provide information but really help people care about it. For example, if you create a Elearning race Based on behaviorism, including repetition, immediate feedback and rewards, learners can absorb and recall information more easily.
Successful results
It is essential to understand the pedagogies in Elearning if you want your learners to engage not only with the content but succeed. So what does that mean? Well, knowing the right pedagogy allows you to align the content, its design and how you teach it with the needs of your learners. For example, if you teach a complex concept, the use of a pedagogy where learners engage in an active problem solving will help them understand much better than the simple presentation of information. Without forgetting that when you correspond to the right teaching strategy with age, the history of your learner and previous knowledge, the results are much better. There are so many different pedagogies, and knowing when using everyone can seriously have an impact on how your learners reach their goals.
Higher motivation of the learner
When you apply the right pedagogy to the design of your course, your Elearning resonates with what motivates your learners. Motivation is the key to engagement, and when learners are committed, they are more likely to complete your course and understand and apply what they have learned. For example, if you use liberationism, which allows learners to become educators themselves and explain the material as they understand it to their peers, they will feel more connected to him. They will be motivated because they will expand their knowledge of new ways and collaborate with their classmates and their teachers to explore concepts.
Conclusion
Do not let these learning theories overwhelm you. Consider them as tools, each offering a different way of connecting with learners. You don't need to master all theories, but you just have to explore them one by one and see what is more suitable for your teaching and design style. The next time you create a course, try to identify the pedagogy behind it or to experiment by applying one. You might be surprised by the way it changes the way your learners get involved. So do not hesitate and see how these theories can make your experience Elearning more impactful.
At Learnopoly, Finn has championed a mission to deliver unbiased, in-depth reviews of online courses that empower learners to make well-informed decisions. With over a decade of experience in financial services, he has honed his expertise in strategic partnerships and business development, cultivating both a sharp analytical perspective and a collaborative spirit. A lifelong learner, Finn’s commitment to creating a trusted guide for online education was ignited by a frustrating encounter with biased course reviews.