Online adult learning in higher education: Examining experiences, motivations, success and barriers to lifelong learning

Abstract

Online education environment is becoming increasingly popular among adult learners. Despite the growing attention given to online learning in Kazakhstan over the last decade, online adult learners voices are scarce. As such, I planned a mixed method explanatory study to better under online adult learners’ experiences in Kazakhstan. However, due to a low response rate, this study focused on interviews of 10 adult learners with bachelor and master’s degrees who participated in online learning within recent years. Through the lenses of theories related to online adult learning, the main research questions guiding this study included: (1) What are adult learners’ perceptions of the online learning, and how they have changed, if at all, in unprecedented times during COVID-19 (2) What motivates adult learners with postgraduate degrees to participate in online learning? (3) What are adult learners’ perceptions of success and challenges in online learning? Semi-structured interviews were conducted online due to the restrictions of COVID-19. Findings showed that adult learners’ perceptions of online learning are more positive than negative; reasons for adults to enroll in online learning varied from professional and personal development to being forced to due to pandemic.....