Adult Education and the Internet

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the concept of using the Internet in the pursuit of higher education is not exactly new, but what has changed, however, is the increasing legitimacy and widespread use of the Internet in the pursuit of higher education, from the research of traditional college students to the complete education of students enrolled in "online universities" and courses. It looks at how adult students face unique challenges when they utilize the Internet as part of their education in ways that mirror the issues they face within other instructional modalities and how, in seeking to understand just how adults learn, these issues must be viewed collectively, for general adult learner/adult education studies must be considered as a whole along with the added factors arising out of the use of technology. It is in this synthesis that a good understanding of the behavior of adult learners in Internet/distance courses can be understood.

Outline
The Adult Learner and Adult Education
Learning Theories and Processes in Adults
Developmental Issues
Theory and Practice
Technology and the Adult Learner
Ethical Issues
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Clearly the use of the Internet as an educational technology (when this problem is not acknowledged and dealt with) can allow the drawbacks of experiential contextualization to persist, where, perhaps in a traditional learning environment one that includes students of varying age, experience, cultural and ideological background, and one that forces the adult learner's participation in discussion and dialogue--the vantage points of other students may have a greater influence and changing effect. Here, awareness of the problem can be an important tool in developing and implementing "online courses", for educators can employ discussion groups online that have the ability to closely mimic physical classroom participation."

More papers on Adult Education and the Internet:

• Analytical Essay # 130540 : "Adult Education and Distance Learning"
• Research Paper # 29853 : "Adult Education On-Line"
• Research Paper # 15910 : "Education in the United Kingdom"

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