A Study on the Experience of Older Adults Participating in Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The qualitative study explored the online learning experiences of older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic, including their feelings, learning difficulties, and coping strategies. This study collected the experiences of 7 older adults who participated in online learning courses at the Active Aging Learning Demonstrating Centers in Taiwan through semi-structured interviews. The findings were as followings: 1. Initially, older adults felt nervous and somewhat resistant when they participated in online learning. However, to ensure uninterrupted learning during the Covid-19 pandemic and with encouragement from family members and institutional staff, they were willing to try to learn new things. 2. Problems concerning the use of digital equipment, problems with interface control, memory or vision problems, distraction caused by external environmental factors during class and challenges regarding teacher and student interaction were the main difficulties for older adults to participate in online learning. 3. Older adults tried to solve their online learning difficulties by participating in the organization's online course operational training in advance, looking for friends or classmates to guide and share learning information, taking notes and pictures of themselves, and asking teachers for instant feedback and suggestions. Finally, the results of this study can provide government and education-related institutes to develop online learning courses as a reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]