Abstract:

While the specifics of andragogy can be understood in various ways, its core premise is that adults learn differently from children and adolescents. Andragogical theory centers on six key assumptions about adult learners:
(1) self-directedness,
(2) the influence of work and life experience,
(3) readiness to learn,
(4) orientation to learning,
(5) internal motivation for learning, and
(6) the need to understand the relevance of what they are learning.

Drawing on this framework, this presentation communicates the findings of a study investigating whether participants in a military leadership course perceived their learning environment as reflecting these six assumptions.

The course examined in this study is part of the Master’s degree program at the Norwegian Command and Staff College. The participants were seasoned military officers in their late 30s. This six-week course, titled Military Leader- and Management Development in Theory and Practice, combines academic study and self-development. Participants learn theoretical models and methodological approaches to leadership and management, engage in self-assessment tools (e.g., personality testing, team role mapping), and reflect on their leadership experiences. The course's overarching goal is to equip future high-ranking officers with the skills necessary to build a professional leadership culture and transition from operational and tactical roles to strategic positions.

The study to be presented operationalized the six andragogical assumptions into a semi-structured interview, completed by ten of the eleven course participants. A thematic analysis of their responses revealed four overarching themes:
(1) Relevancy,
(2) Learning Methods,
(3) Active Participation, and
(4) Motivation.

The study concludes that participants generally experienced an andragogical learning environment, though some areas for improvements were identified. The presentation will discuss details within each of these four themes and explore the applicability of andragogy in military leadership education.

Keywords:

Andragogy, leadership, military.