Malcolm Knowles

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Malcolm Knowles (August 24, 1913–November 27, 1997) was an American Adult Educator, famous for the creation of the theory of Andragogy and is credited with being a fundamental influence in the development of the Humanist Learning Theory.

Born in Montana as the son of a veterinarian, Knowles was an avid boy scout in his youth. He earned a scholarship to Harvard University where he graduated with a B.A in 1934. Shortly afterwards, he worked with the National Youth Administration in Massachusetts and was married to his wife 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 MA 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. During his career he authored over 230 articles and 18 books, some of which include:

  • Knowles, M. S. (1950). Informal adult education. New York: Association Press.
  • Knowles, M. S., & Knowles, H. F. (1955). How to develop better leaders. New York: Association Press.
  • Knowles, M. S., & Knowles, H. F. (1959). Introduction to group dynamics. Chicago: Association Press. Revised edition 1972 *published by New York: Cambridge Books.
  • Knowles, M. S. (1975). Self-directed learning: A guide for learners and teachers. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall/Cambridge.
  • Knowles, M. S. (1977). The adult education movement in the United States. Malabar, FL: Krieger.
  • Knowles, M. S. (1980). The modern practice of adult education: From pedagogy to andragogy. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall/Cambridge.
  • Knowles, M. S., et al. (1984). Andragogy in action: Applying modern principles of adult education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  • Knowles, M. S. (1986). Using learning contracts. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  • Knowles, M. S. (1989). The making of an adult educator: An autobiographical journey. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  • Knowles, M. S. (1990). The adult learner: A neglected species. Houston: Gulf Publishing Company.

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