Andragogy in Prison: Higher Education in Prison and the Tenets of Adult Education

Abstract

This article synthesizes literatures relating to the fields of andragogy and prison education. It is a key moment to reflect on teaching practices inside carceral settings. As Pell Grant availability for incarcerated students is set to expand dramatically, many college and university faculty are soon likely to be entering prisons as instructors for the first time. This article contends that the tenets of andragogy provide a useful framework for structuring prison education course syllabi, activities, assignments, and evaluation methods. With the aim of valuing students’ life experiences and assisting in the process of self-direction, andragogy can help combat some of the most harmful dynamics inside prisons, encouraging students to maintain an important degree of agency over their own learning.