Key Information:
- Adult learners face significant technology challenges in online programs, including limited access to devices, low digital literacy, and unfamiliarity with complex learning platforms.
- The digital divide disproportionately affects marginalized groups—such as low-income families and people of color—making online learning more difficult and unequal.
- Time constraints, outdated systems, and a lack of tech confidence can lead to missed deadlines, frustration, and even dropping out of programs.
- Colleges must take responsibility by offering accessible tech support, digital literacy training, and inclusive, user-friendly learning platforms.
Since 2020, an increasing number of college students have been opting for online learning. Even those who live near colleges choose to pursue online courses for better time management.
While online degree programs offer numerous benefits, they can also be challenging at times. In particular, technology challenges faced by adult learners can make the online learning experience tough. And, in some cases, it can make them quit.
Adult learners and online learning technology don’t always mix easily. Tech problems can range from as simple as not having reliable devices or internet access to struggling with complex online platforms.
So, in this article, we’re diving into the real-life tech challenges adult learners face in online degree programs—and more importantly, what can be done to fix them.
Related:
- Financial Aid for Adult Learners Returning to College
- Cheapest Online Bachelor’s Degrees
- Top Emerging Online Degree Programs
- Online Bachelor’s Degree Scholarships and Financial Aid
- Challenges Faced by Adult Learners in Online Learning
The Digital Divide: Unequal Access to Technology
Almost 87% of most households in the U.S have a computer, smartphone, tablet, or some internet-connected device. Additionally, around 73% of respondents have internet access. However, even then, a significant digital divide remains.
Who’s hit hardest by the digital divide? It’s mostly marginalized communities—people who are already facing other challenges in life. That includes:
- People of color
- Low-income families
- English-language learners
- Individuals with disabilities
- Those experiencing homelessness
The shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic made things even harder for these students, and the effects of the digital divide are still being felt today.
The digital divide has made learning more challenging for many students, particularly those from marginalized communities and adult learners. There are a few big ways tech barriers for adult students in online program show up:
- Falling behind in school – Students without good tech access often struggle to keep up with classwork.
- More obstacles to learning – Those with reliable devices and Wi-Fi finish tasks faster, while others deal with constant tech issues.
- Unequal learning experience – Some students have to work twice as hard just to meet the same goals as their peers.
What can help?
- Schools can step up by offering laptop loaner programs.
- Some institutions already provide Wi-Fi hotspots—more should.
- Even a small tech stipend can reduce technology struggles in distance learning. This makes a huge difference for someone choosing between paying bills and buying a new charger.
Limited Digital Literacy and Confidence
Many adult learners, especially those who haven’t had to use technology at work, often lack experience with tools like Zoom, Google Docs, or learning platforms like Canvas or Blackboard.
And it’s not just about knowing how to open a Word document. There’s file management, video conferencing, collaborating on cloud apps, and even knowing how to back things up. If you didn’t grow up doing this stuff, it doesn’t come naturally.
To make computer literacy challenges for older students worse, the lack of confidence in using tech can snowball into frustration and, for some, dropping out entirely.
What can help?
- Schools should offer pre-course digital literacy workshops to minimize the technical skills gap in adult online learners.
- Ongoing, patient tech support—not just a chatbot or 9‑to‑5 helpdesk.
- Step-by-step tutorials (video and written) that assume zero prior knowledge.
Learning Curve with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Tools
The LMS, or Learning Management System. Whether it’s Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, or something else, these platforms are the backbone of most online programs. It’s where assignments live, grades show up, and discussions happen.
Online learning difficulties for adult learners arise when they’re figuring out how to submit a paper or reply to a forum post. And don’t get us started on syncing calendars, finding feedback, or navigating through 10 tabs just to find your professor’s email.
What can help?
- Guided, live walkthroughs during orientation.
- “How-to” videos made specifically for adult learners and not just tech-savvy teens.
- 24/7 helpdesk or “tech buddies” who can walk you through e‑learning technology problems for adult learners without making you feel dumb.
Time Constraints and Tech Troubleshooting
Most adult learners are busy. They’ve got kids to feed, bills to pay, jobs to juggle, and only a handful of hours a week to study. So when dealing with technology challenges faced by adult learners, it’s more than a hiccup. It’s a crisis.
Unlike younger students who may have extra time or a tech-savvy roommate nearby to help overcome common technology issues in online education, adult learners often have to fix things on their own and quickly. And with deadlines ticking, these glitches can quickly turn into missed opportunities.
What can help?
- Schools should offer round-the-clock tech support.
- Make mobile apps and platforms that actually work well on phones.
- Create backup plans—like grace periods or alternative assignments—just in case tech issues strike.
Security, Privacy, and Software Updates
Another major area of adult students and digital learning challenges is staying safe and up-to-date online. For many adult learners, digital security isn’t always top of mind mainly because it’s not something they’ve had to deal with much before.
Some are hesitant to download new software or updates, worried it might mess up their system or cost money. Others might not recognize phishing emails or know how to spot a scam.
This is definitely one of the most crucial tech barriers for adult students in online programs. Without proper antivirus protection or secure passwords, their personal information can be at risk.
The result? Outdated systems that crash, security risks, and more tech headaches.
What can help?
- Simple guides on internet safety—think “how to spot a fake email” or “why updates matter.”
- Free or discounted antivirus software from the school.
- Help setting up automatic updates and strong passwords.
Age-Related Learning Preferences and Interface Design
Again, adult learners and online learning technology are often not a good combination. Many online platforms are designed with younger students in mind. The interface can feel cluttered, the pace too fast, or the navigation just plain weird. Some adult learners also prefer more tactile, real-world styles of learning and struggle with all-digital formats.
Ever try reading tiny text on a busy page filled with buttons, pop-ups, and confusing menus? It’s exhausting. And for many adult learners, these technology struggles in distance learning causes them to drop out.
What can help?
- Platforms that are clean, simple, and flexible.
- Options to learn via text, audio, or video (so students can pick what works best).
- Adjustable font sizes, slower-paced modules, and built-in breaks.
Emotional and Psychological Barriers
This might be among the most overlooked technology challenges faced by adult learners of all: the emotional toll.
A lot of adult learners feel embarrassed or anxious about not being as tech-savvy as their younger classmates. Some even feel like impostors, like they’re faking their way through an experience meant for someone else.
The technical skills gap in adult online learners can create a fear of clicking the wrong button, asking a “dumb” question, or falling behind can lead to stress, isolation, and burnout. And once someone starts believing they just can’t do it, it’s hard to keep going.
What can help?
- Normalize the learning curve. Remind students that tech fluency isn’t a birthright—it’s a skill.
- Create safe online spaces where learners can ask questions without judgment.
- Offer encouragement, check-ins, and emotional support—just like you’d get in a real-life classroom.
Institutional Responsibility: What Schools Must Do
E‑learning technology problems for adult learners don’t fall entirely on the learners. Colleges and universities need to step up and build systems that actually support the students they claim to serve.
That means:
- Onboarding programs that teach basic tech skills before classes begin.
- Tech help that’s friendly, fast, and actually helpful.
- Mobile-optimized platforms and apps that don’t glitch out.
- And maybe most importantly, asking adult learners for feedback to improve the experience.
When institutions listen to the real-life online learning difficulties for adult learners, they can create online programs that are inclusive, empowering, and actually effective.
Conclusion
Technology is there to empower—not discourage—adult learners in online degree programs.
Yes, there are real technology challenges faced by adult learners. But every single one of them can be tackled with the right support, the right tools, and a little bit of patience (on both sides).
You don’t have to be a tech genius to succeed in an online degree program. You just need the willingness to learn and a system that believes in your ability to grow.
So if you’re an adult learner who’s ever wanted to toss your laptop out the window, know this: you’re not alone. In fact, adult students and digital learning challenges go hand-in-hand more often than people realize. However, that doesn’t mean you’re not suited for online learning.
