Adult learners' perceptions toward online instruction in an advanced psychology of learning course at the University of Wisconsin-Stout

Abstract

Many universities and other educational facilities have opened the doors to a new way of teaching, on-line learning. On-line courses have become as common to some educational facilities as traditional classroom led instruction. Since this new way of teaching and learning has emerged within education, many adult learners may have interesting views how on-line learning is approached and delivered. This research study will look at the perceptions of adult learners in an on-line course at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The research analyzes the perceptions of the adult learners in an Advanced Psychology of Learning course offered at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The study included an on-line survey instrument to the students enrolled in a summer 2003 session of the course. The study evaluates and determines that the majority of the students enrolled in the course were able to learn at the same level or above what a classroom environment would offer to them. The majority of the students felt their learning objectives, as well as the learning objectives of the course, were met. Suggestions for areas of further study of on-line courses were determined based upon the results of this research