The concept of andragogy is posited on four key assumptions about adult learners that distinguish them from child learners and that thus abrogate the premises upon which traditional pedagogy is based. In traditional pedagogy, the role of the learner is one of dependency. Andragogy, on the other hand, recognizes the deep psychological need of adults to be self-directing, and the andragogical model encourages teachers to nurture and encourages learners' natural maturation toward independence. The second postulate on which andragogy is based is that of the valued role of the learner's experience. This accumulated experience makes adult learners capable of peer helping and learning and thus makes group teaching methods better suited for adult learners than are passive information transmittal techniques. The third assumption is that of adults' readiness to learn, and the fourth is that of their psychological orientation to learning. In view of these assumptions, adult educators should use techniques to accelerate their students' readiness to learn, including self-appraisal, career counseling, and simulation. (An annotated bibliography of 20 items is included.) (MN)