053

​tb15 1/12/2010 7:30:50

General Session - Conference Presentation Only (no formal paper)

//Kathrine O'Neil, Kaplan University, Columbus, Ohio, USA, koneil@kaplan.edu//
 * The application of adult learning theories to online courses.**

In 2002, the United States Department of Education reported that “students in the traditional 18- to 22-year-old age group accounted for slightly fewer that one-forth of all post secondary students in 2001” (as cited in Smith & Reio, 2006, p. 116). As educators, we are serving a diverse community of non-traditional, adult learners, thereby creating an increased need for instructors to understand adult development and adult learning theories. This knowledge should lead to the use of effective andragogy. Andragogy, rather than pedagogy allows adult learners to utilize personal experiences to work in a self-directed fashion. Online courses and programs provide the perfect platform for effective andragogy, which meets the developmental needs of adult learners. This forum will explore ways that adult learning theories can aid in the development of online courses. This forum will aid other instructors in course development.

All Audiences adult development learning&theories online&education psychology