Jing Zhang

E-andragogy and E-learning: Exploring Adult Learners' Perspectives and Practices of Web-based Distance Education Jing Zhang

This research explored and examined how web-based distance education (WBDE) influenced adult learners then to learn about challenges and potential barriers of WBDE programs. Many studies have done on traditional distance education, but little research has done on WBDE for adult learners. WBDE has the goal to provide socio-technical innovations for E-learning practices, regarding individuals and organizations, independence of time, place and pace. These discussions and conclusions in this research explored the adult learner's perspectives and practices on WBDE; the barriers and challenges of WBDE were investigated, the recommendation were given; adult learners' suggestion and expectation on WBDE were concluded. In this research, a new term E-andragogy is created and defined. E-andragogy is a field of education that focuses on the adult online learners' technology, pedagogy, andragogy, epistemology, and instructional systems design that aim to deliver education to adult learners who are not physically "on site". E-andragogy involves the use of a computer and internet in some ways to provide educational learning environment and material.