Do Adults Really Learn Online?

As adults, we all learn in different ways. Recently, I read an article from a group of scholars about learning theories. This isn’t going to turn into a lecture, but the article outlined six different ways people understand learning. Some focus on how we process information. Others emphasize social interaction. Some highlight transformation and growth. The big takeaway? There isn’t one right way adults learn. We carry decades of experience, habits, and confidence, or insecurity, into every new learning space.

Some theories emphasize structure and organization. Others, like social learning theory, suggest we learn best through conversation and shared experience. Transformative learning challenges us to question long-held assumptions. Connectivism recognizes that learning now happens through digital networks and shared knowledge. And then there’s heutagogy, which argues that learners should take almost full control of their own learning.

I’ve spent time researching heutagogy, and honestly, I struggle with it as a primary theory for adults. Independence matters. But not every adult wants to build a train then riding on it. Many of us still benefit from guidance. I find myself leaning toward approaches that balance autonomy with support, like connectivism or ideas connected to self-determination theory. Adults want choice, yes, but also clarity and direction.

Have you ever wondered what goes on in teachers’ minds when they design online courses? In Minds Online, Miller explains that effective teaching requires thoughtful structure, clear expectations, and careful attention to cognitive overload.

Years ago, I taught my parents how to send emails. Both were lifelong educators. Suddenly, they were the students. They weren’t incapable. They just needed step-by-step support and reassurance. Once they felt confident, they didn’t need me anymore.

That’s scaffolding. Temporary support that helps someone move forward until they can stand on their own.

Across the lifespan, adults don’t need less support. They need the right support at the right time.

So dear reader, when you're learning something new, what helps you move from confusion to confidence?

References:

Brieger, E., Arghode, V., & McLean, G. (2020). Connecting theory and practice: Reviewing six learning theories to inform online instruction. European Journal of Training and Development, 44(4-5), 321-339.

Image: Adobe Express

Miller, M. D. (2014). Minds online: Teaching effectively with technology. Harvard University Press.