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Chapter I Introduction 2
1. Computer-phobia 4
References 10
Appendix
1
Chapter 1
Introduction
delivering and facilitating learning is blurring the line between traditional academic
education, held away from the job and focused more on ideas than on the application of
ideas, and traditional job training, held at work and focused more on applied skills than
on the mastery of a body of knowledge. This change in the very definition of education is
reflected in current terminology. According to Burnside 2001, the term "learning" has
come to mean improving one's skills through training as well as deepening one's
the term "learners" has begun to replace "students" and "trainees" now encompasses
Many adult these days are taking back the education because of the working’s
psychological contract of fixed employment with one company, they are increasingly
aware of their responsibility for their own careers. This causes a deep need among
workers to ensure that they have the means for a successful career path. To attain this,
they first need skills that bring success in their current jobs, portable to their next jobs
and increase their market value. Second, they need membership in professional
networks that keep them up- to-date in their professions and provide contacts for job
searching.
Third, they need the skills to use the new technologies like computers, hardware,
1
Providing Learning For Working Adults. New Strait Times: 08-13-2001.
2
software, Internet, Webcasts, chatrooms and more and to the extent that these affect
their current work practice. Fourth, they need the legitimation which degrees such as an
MBA can bring, but delivered in a way that fits into their daily lives.
But by stepping to the life of student again, they have to beat huge odds towards
their success. Adult learners are facing so many problems on taking back education as
they have been putting away their student’s life a long time ago. When they want to get
back in track as a student again, many things have changed. Especially the way of
teaching, learning and adapting the role itself. Working adult e-learners are facing a lot
of problems such as problems with computer literacy, unfamiliar with the technology
usage, problems with adapting new methods of learning, facing with computer-phobias,
having difficulties in adapting the role of student, problems of handling their stress and
more.
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Chapter II
In this chapter, we will discuss three problems that faced by working adult learners. The
problems that we will discuss were about computer-phobia, problem with technologies
1. Computer-phobia
by teachers of public speaking to ease stage fright can be adapted to the problem of
overcoming fear of computers in novice adult learners. Virginia Inman’s article (1983) in
the Wall Street Journal is fiercely serious when it states that people unfamiliar with
computers are afraid “if they touch the wrong button, they will blow up Pittsburg.” More
realistically, many people in computer classes fear that if they accidentally touch a wrong
Moreover, the adults, especially those over thirty tend to be reticent about
speaking up in class. Frankly, they are afraid of appearing stupid. This is especially true
with middle management types who are used to giving orders, making decisions, and, in
general, not being’ in a position where their errors are highly visible (Kneller, 1986). In
addition to fear, many adults consider the computers to be “rude”, “Fatal error”, or “run
computer, 2) A feeling that a novice might damage the machine or somehow ruin its
4
insides, 3) A failure to read and study, thereby psychologically denying that the computer
computers, , and 5) A feeling of role reversal, i.e. that the man is the slave, the computer
is the master2. This problem is serious enough to have generated some empirical
research. Jeffrey Hoffman and Keith Waters (1982) gave MBTI assessments to 155
students at the Naval Technical Center at Pensacola, Florida. The Myers- Briggs Type
The purpose of this study was to see if significant relationships existed among
instructional program. The results, in brief, indicated that those scoring high in “sensing”
completed the program sooner than the intuitive types and a higher than expected
attrition rate was found among those described as ENP’s. The EP’s (Extraverted-
Perceptive) types “overwhelmingly tended to drop out of the CA1 program.” The
explanation: JP’s like variety and action; they prefer theory to application. They tend to
pay attention to the broad picture and not to the details. Furthermore, “a person having
expected to efficiently account for his time, plan ahead, or always follow through on
tasks”.
Specific changes resulting from the above findings have included use of mini-
lectures for clarification, planning additional verbal interaction among students, having
two or three students working at one terminal at a time, promoting competition among
2
facto: addition to the “fear another element might well be labeled the “distaste factor” - or “I don’t Like to
work any kind of Logical machine.”
5
students, encouraging better management of time and organizational habits, and even
incorporating relaxation and quiet times. According to the authors, all of the above “have
too general, sometimes even irrelevant to the basic cause of fear: personal anxiety.
Thomas Jay (1982) was correct when he stated that “The cure for computer-phobia must
With the new adult learning revolution, there are no longer any barriers. You just have to
“click, click and click” anywhere and anytime to get all the information right in your hand.
All you have to do is open the computer and used the internet. The internet is all that you
need. It’s allowing students to receive a quality education from their home computers.
While distance learning via audio and video tapes has long been a part of many
universities, new online education is picking up steam. That very thought frightens many
traditionalists. After all, when we picture college or university, we certainly don't think of
any of the scenarios listed above. Yet, whether or not traditionalists change, the trend
will continue.
Some traditionalist thinker may have some problems facing the new era of
education. Adults were not like youngsters nowadays who are eager to learn
technologies and can easily adapt new way of learning. This is because they were used
with the traditional education methods and they were so selfish to ask for help. So when
talking about e-learning, some adults may have problems adapting the new learning
methods. Students that are having problems with the usage of technologies are affecting
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his studies. E-learning is based on the usage of the internet technologies. They use the
internet to connect through their campus centre, searching for information for their
assignment and used the Learning Management Systems (LMS) as their socialization
medium with their friends and educators. In e-learning education, technologies are very
As facing this problem, there some suggestion that might help them cope with it.
Firstly, one should have their own computer at home so that they have the time to
practice more with the use of internet and other application that specified in their learning
materials. Secondly, read more books on how to use the computers application and the
internet. As you read more, you will learn to navigate the internet more easily. Thirdly,
happened generally to the ‘workaholic’ and causes by many factor. It happens by the
unbalance psychological need around their workplace and too much motivation to
achieve success. Working hard for a week without having a relaxing surround will
promote stress. When coming to the dateline people were just have to rush, mind on the
work all the time, no time to take a nap and eat. Sometimes it happens because of the
competing in the job they aim to be promoted. Not only that but work-stress also can be
happen at home. They tend to take their work to their house and cause many bad
situations including the loss of family touch at home because they have no time for their
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Work-stress causes headache, unable to concentrate, emotional disorder and
depression. This will result the loss of concentration towards their studies. It appear that
they will somehow construct the defense mechanism3. They will reconstruct their
reaction towards certain things that makes them stress such as work and studies. They
will tend to react with adverse way towards it. When their emotional status is imbalance,
they tend to escape the situation. This will cause student to pulling away from doing their
homework or study. They will have problems on completing their job at work and giving
time to complete their studies because they are unwilling to concentrate. At this point,
the longer it takes to realized it, the worse it might get through your achievement.
There are some ways to help cope with the problem. One should always give self
a time to rest for a while before beginning a new task. In the weekend, go for a walk in
the park or any places that can give you relaxation. A spa can also give you the
relaxation you need. If you didn’t have time to do an outdoor activity, you can always do
relaxation with your favorite indoor activities such as sewing, cooking, housekeeping,
singing karaoke, playing guitar, playing playstation games and much more. All you have
3
Refer to the react of protecting self from depression.
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Chapter III
Conclusion
The bigger the responsibility the greater the challenges could be. Unlike children and
teenagers, adults have many responsibilities that they must balance against the
participating in learning. Some of these barriers include lack of time, money, confidence,
traditional education and carries and potential for greater success. Of course, the
Additionally, the learners come to the course with precisely defined expectations.
Unfortunately, there are barriers to their learning. The best motivators for adult learners
are interest and selfish benefit. If they can be shown that the course benefits them
pragmatically, they will perform better, and the benefits will be longer lasting.
(1’906 words)