The Need for Pedagogical Change in Online Adult Learning: A Distance Education Case in a Traditional University

• Main Author: Sönmez Pamuk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Gaziantep University 2012-12-01
• Series: Gaziantep University Journal of Social Sciences
• Subjects: Uzaktan eğitim ve pedagojik unsurlar; Yetişkinlerin çevrimiçi öğrenme tecrübesi; Çevrimiçi öğretimde temel dinamikler; Pedagogy in distance eduation; adults’ online learning experinces; dynamics of teaching online
• Online Access: http://dergipark.gov.tr/jss/issue/24239/256963?publisher=gantep

The need for providing opportunities for those who seek for advancing his or her knowledge and skills on different subjects while they are away from campus has been a requirement of the era we live in. Thus, the diffusion of distance education concept among educators and use of related technologies in many campuses has been growing. Although different advanced technologies are available for preparing and delivering content online, the important question on how to use these technologies still remains unanswered. Literature on the subject recommends that having access to technology itself does not produce desired outcome, unless it is supported with appropriate pedagogical approaches. This study, therefore, was designed to investigate pedagogy of teaching and learning online from adult students’ perspectives. Specifically, to understand pedagogical factors that impact student understanding of the content online, how adult students in an online program assess pedagogical approaches represented by course instructors, weaknesses they have experienced and ideas what would be done in terms of pedagogical approach so that adult learners learn better in online environments. Participants stressed on the importance of pedagogical planning and implementation strategies. Among those issues, planning before teaching, social presence through interactions, and feedback mechanism are mostly indicated issues necessary for effective teaching and learning online.