Online Learning and the Adult Learner

Manifesto for Alesia Wakefield-Medley: Hello and welcome to online learning and Adult Learner blog. My name is Alesia Wakefield-Medley and my passion is Adult Learning. I have worked with Adult Learners for over 10 years in the areas of Human Resources and TRiO Programs. Currently, I am an Educational Program Specialist for the Educational Opportunity Center which is a TRiO Program.  Our program works with and assists Adult Learners age 18 and above enroll in postsecondary education and complete their GED if needed.   Every day I meet Adult Learners who are faced with the possibility of entering the technologically laced world of education.  Many of my Adult Learner clients are not prepared or equipped to utilize the technology that we use daily.  They need some type form of remediation to prepare them to be successful.   My purpose in creating this blog is to discuss why I believe Adult Learners need technological assistance and support to be ab...

In the online learning realm, there are new online teaching techniques that can be utilized to enhance learning that can encourage learning and enhance your lessons.  If you are working with Adult Learners keep in mind that they are mostly Digital Immigrants (were not born into the technological age) and may not be as technologically savvy as your Digital Native students (students born into the technological age).  Because of this fact, as educators/teachers we need to include technology techniques that our students can effectively relate to and utilize.     EDUCAUSE which is a nonprofit organization/association whose mission is to enhance and advance higher education through the use of information technology has developed several learning initiatives that instructors can utilize.  These learning initiatives include microlectures, badges, video communication, and challenge-based-learning.  Please see my personal choice/preference microlectures for...

Who and what are Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives?? As defined by Prensky, Digital Immigrants are individuals who were "not born into the digital world" (Prensky, 2001).  In contrast, Digital Immigrants are individuals who were born into the digital world.  The importance of the distinction is this: As Digital Immigrants learn – like all immigrants, some better than others – to adapt to their environment, they always retain, to some degree, their "accent," that is, their foot in the past. The “digital immigrant accent” can be seen in such things as turning to the Internet for information second rather than first, or in reading the manual for a program rather than assuming that the program itself will teach us to use it. Today’s older folk were "socialized" differently from their kids, and are now in the process of learning a new language. And a language learned later in life, scientists tell us, goes into a different part of the brain. Th...

In the previous post I discussed who are  Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives.  The purpose in this post is to further clarify the difference that Adult Learners encounter when faced with technology.  By the nature of the generation when the Adult Learner was born they are at a technological disadvantage.  Some Adult Learners have adapted and function at ease and expertise in our technologically laced world.  However, there are more Adult Learners who are not prepared for Online Learning.           Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives are terms coined by the author and motivational speaker Marc Prensky to describe individuals that were not born into technology age (Digital Immigrants) and individuals who were born into the technology age (Digital Natives).   These terms describe the learners enrolled in today’s distance learning classes.  There are challenges for the instructors and students who interact with these...

In the previous posts I defined who the Digital Immigrants were and some very unique challenges that they face.  This video will further discuss the needs of Adult Learners and give insight on how we can assist them in being successful. To further assist Adult Learners in an Online Learning environment the post that follows this one titled "Social Presence in Online Learning" discusses how creating social presence in Online Learning environments actually assist Adult Learners with adjusting to the Online Learning environment.  Creating social presence also meets the social needs of Adult Learners.

It is extremely important for instructors and students to develop social presence in an online learning environment.  Creating social presence in an online learning environment is imperative to developing successful students and positive outcomes.  When and Adult Learner thinks of an Online Learning environments the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that there is no face to face interaction and all assignments will be completed with the assistance of some technological platform.  Almost immediately an Adult Learner or Digital Immigrant begins to ponder how they will be able to receive feedback, communicate or get in touch with their instructor and classmates.  They also become anxious and sometimes consider dropping out of an Online Learning class because they desire to have the immediate personal touch that a face to face course provides.  Well-developed social presence can calm and ease many of the Adult Learners concerns about Online Learning....

          The term technophobia can be defined as the fear or dislike of technology.  Technophobia is a highly researched phobia and can also be “culturally or religiously induced” (Olesen, 2013).  Most Adult Learners “Digital Immigrants” (Prensky, 2001) who have not had access to technology as it has developed often view technology through a technophobic lens (Dimick, 2015).  At the root of technophobia is the fact that Adult Learners are not ignorant, they just do not understand technology which results in their reaction to shun its use (Olesen, 2013).  Adult Learners who are affected by technophobia experience panic, reluctance or refusal to use technology, and criticize it.  Consequently, technophobia affects an Adult Learners ability to learn in an online learning environment.  To ease or eradicate technophobia in Adult Learning instructors should be informed and prepared.  One strategy that instru...

       M aintain large, easy to read fonts and clear, bold some limitations and colors.                Ensure compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act and Federal 508 guidelines.        Use variety of graphics, images, and tables.        Use clear menu structure.           Use a search and find function.                Chunk information into 5-9 bits of information.           Allow Adult Learners to absorb information rather than memorizing it.           Provide practice with feedback and self-tests.           Give adults an opportunity to design and develop their learning experience by utilizing projects.             Provide record keeping among sessions.             Pr...

8 Important Characteristics Of Adult Learners : The adult learners' characteristics are extremely important in order instructional designers to create the right eLearning course content and structure