The effectiveness of a technology-mediated course for adult learners : a case study

Abstract

Inquisitive thinking about technology-mediated courses and their effectiveness brought about this study, which focuses on the phenomenon of online learning within the broader field of distance education. Online learning is perceived as a great strategy due to its capacity to empower citizens through a more personalised approach, allowing them to pursue learning alongside work and life commitments. This study evaluates the effectiveness of an implemented online course in supporting adult learners to develop the required skills, with the aim of improving their education, confidence, and career prospects. It investigates the students’ engagement during the learning programme, the extent of learning that is achieved, and the students’ academic performance. The study adopted a mixed methods research design for collecting and analysing the data, thus permitting the triangulation of different datasets and the corroboration of distinct findings. This contributed to the development of a rich description of the topic. The data was collected through pre- and post-course self-evaluation questionnaires, weekly tasks, an end-of-course test, and focus groups. The findings show that the online course was effective; however, its effectiveness depended on multiple factors. These findings led to a number of recommendations that one might find useful for practice development of technology-mediated courses.