Ragan's Principles Revisited

Adult learners, once considered a non-traditional population in higher education, have established a firm normalcy. The research of Knowles proposes that adult learners are motivated by learning experiences that are directly applicable to their lives, tend to be self-directed, and want to feel that they have a definite sense of purpose in a learning experience. These foundational elements of adult learning are well-documented and understood by successful adult learning practitioners. The selected elements of Ragan's framework were interpreted through the researcher's own lens and practice in online learning. As such, there was license taken in the application to the courses taught by the author.