Is online learning for everyone? The answer is unequivocally “NO.” Certainly there are benefits to online learning for the majority of adult learners as related to overcoming the traditional barriers of time, location, and career/family constraints. However, these benefits do not ensure that an online learner will be successful. Although the demographics and learning styles of an adult learner do contribute to patterns of success, I recently read an interesting study on demographics and personality types of distance learners that indicated the following:
1. The successful traits of a distance learner are similar to the successful traits of an adult learner in traditional educational settings.
2. That success is dependent on vibrant communication among the learner, his or her peers and the instructor and can be faciliated through phone, email, or a learning management platform.
3. Communication among the learner must be part of a personalized, customized evaluation of that learner by the institution.