Success Rate in Online Courses

Our daily lives are touched by the rapidly changing landscape of technology and learning. Many adults are being introduced to the vast array of online and eLearning opportunities to further their education. Although some research indicates a less than favorable success rate for adults taking online courses, there are indicators pointing to an increasing number of adult learners returning to school via online programs. Most major colleges and universities now offer eLearning opportunities, with some offering entire degree programs online. Many schools offer blended learning programs that combine online and face-to-face programs, and some schools only offer online programs. According to Hinds (2001) more adults drop out of distance learning programs than traditional courses and those who quit cite feelings of isolation and complain about the faster pace of online courses and technical difficulties. In your experience with online courses, do you agree with the statement concerning feelings of isolation, faster pace, and technical difficulties? If you are an online course instructor, are you seeing an increase or decrease in adults completing online courses?

National Distance Learning Week

sponsored by
The United States Distance Learning Association

November 10 - 14, 2008

There will be free webinars the week of November 10 -14.

For more information or to register, go to: http://www.ndlw.org

Welcome!!

E-learning has become a very popular method for professional development and academic advancement. On this blog we will explore adult learning preferences and characteristics and what effects these preferences and characteristics have on adult learners taking online classes. What are the needs of adult learners and how can educators and course designers tailor online courses to meet these needs? How can educators make online courses user friendly for participants whether they are beginners or have advanced technology skills? How important is interaction for adult learners and can e-learning provide the interactive atmosphere that adult learners need? In order to create an effective online course for adult learners, we must understand the needs of adult learners.

This blog is a place where you can relax, ponder, and share your thoughts on adults and e-learning. Thanks for joining me in an exploration of this topic.