As the student population of many colleges tip from undergraduate to post-graduate and professional-level instruction, serving the adult learner has taken on new importance. Considering variables such as geographics, time conveniences and individual goals, digital content reigns in the adult education domain (Meyers, 2011).
As a theory, self-directed learning is more likely the path of choice for most adult students and various technological tools provide a plethora of avenues for a person to construct their own knowledge. In this process a person can set goals, pursue resources and often determine their strategic trail toward their desired learning result. Of course, this is assuming the learning is informal.
A more formal setting tends toward the instructor instigating course development to guide the students in a manner that often encompasses diverse learning styles and teaching methods. The assumption is that there is some type of class format, whether asynchronous or synchronous. The teacher will engage the student in a way that will eventually shift him or her to a more active and independent learning circumstance while the teacher transforms into a facilitator. In this way, teachers evolve into partners in the process, contributing, as opposed to dictating. (Väljataga & Laanpere,2010).
Not all students are successful at directing their own learning. This type of learner might be struggling with issues of time management, organization and motivation. He or she will most likely become inefficient in reaching their goals and might even drop out. For a student such as this, face-to-face or a blended face-to-face/online format would provide a better chance of goal realization. Sometimes technological learning is dominant to the student’s frustration and many extended campuses have special programs specific to these needs. Support will become central to achievement or completion whether that be from other learning peers, instructors or even a student sponsorship or mentor program.
International technology news, business & culture... Retrieved September 24, 2011, from
Väljataga, T. & Laanpere M, (2010). Learner control and personal learning environment: a challenge for
instructional design. Interactive Learning Environments, 18(3), 277-291. Retrieved September 25, 2011, from the EBSCOHost database.
You hit the nail right on its head, it is all so true that most online courses should be blended if the student is going into a new line of course study. A student who has already had some courses in history and would like to go further with another history class could easily ace it online. Alternatively one who has never had computers and trying to take programming online would hit walls and be frustrated and drop out eventually.
ReplyDeleteSuch a person needs blended style tutorials.
When you said, "Not all students are successful at directing their own learning." I really connected this statement to myself. It is a struggle for me to learn online. I hope that this new engaged generation is better capable to manage all the distractions this life has to offer. I think if we begin in the youngest grades teaching students to be responsible for themselves and their time. We will be truly getting ahead in the technological advances of the 21st century.
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