What term is used to describe the practice of teaching adults?

The term used to describe the practice of teaching adults is andragogy. This concept specifically focuses on the unique needs, motivations, and characteristics of adult learners. Unlike pedagogy, which primarily addresses the teaching methods used for children and adolescents, andragogy acknowledges that adults come with prior experiences, self-direction, and a desire for relevance in their learning experiences.

Adult learners typically prefer to engage in learning that is practical and applicable to real-world situations, and they often seek to take responsibility for their own educational journeys. This understanding is crucial for educators designing programs or courses aimed at adult populations, as it helps tailor the teaching approaches to better suit the adult learning mindset.

Heutagogy, mentioned as another option, refers to self-determined learning, which builds upon andragogy but places even more emphasis on learners setting their own goals and determining their own learning paths. Pedagogy, on the contrary, does not align with adult education principles as it pertains primarily to children's learning. Malagogy does not exist as a recognized educational term, further clarifying why andragogy is the correct choice for this question.