Definition
The art and science of teaching adults, based on the principle that adult learners are self-directed, draw on prior life experience, and learn best when the material is relevant to their goals and immediately applicable.
Plain English
How adults learn, and how instructors should teach them. Adults learn differently from children — they want to know why something matters, they bring real-world experience to the lesson, and they expect to apply what they learn right away.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation instructor training when discussing how flight instructors help adult student pilots learn effectively.
Derivation
From the Greek 'aner/andros' meaning 'man' or 'adult,' and 'agogos' meaning 'leader' or 'guide.' Literally 'leading the adult.' It is the adult counterpart to 'pedagogy,' which comes from the Greek for 'leading the child.' Knowing this contrast makes the term easier to remember: pedagogy is for kids, andragogy is for grown-ups.
Why Pilots Care
Most flight students are adults who learn best when instruction builds on their experience and shows clear relevance to flying tasks.
Intuition Check
Andragogy does not mean simply giving adults more information. It means shaping instruction around adult learners, who usually need to see why the lesson matters and how they can use it.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor applied andragogy by asking the student how the new crosswind technique connected to a problem he had encountered on his last solo.
Example Sentence 2
Applying andragogy principles, the CFI focused the lesson on how the material would help the adult student pass their checkride.