Many of you who have come to this site are probably either participating in an online class or thinking about doing so in the future. While many of the sites which discuss adult learners and their use of online programs are centered around academics this site has been designed to speak to you the student. There is a great deal of information about you the adult learner and your use of online programs to further your education. Below are some facts that may interest you taken from information provided by the US Department of Education.

Adult education activities are formal activities including basic skills training, apprenticeships, work-related courses, personal interest courses, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, and part-time college or university degree program . This indicator examines the participation rates of individuals age 16 or older in adult education activities.  

According to the latest statistics the number of adult learners increase from 40% to 46% in 1995 to 2001. Then declined to 44% in 2005. This could be indicating a downward trend in the number of adults participating in the educational system.

According to the 2005 data most adult education activities were made up of work-related courses. This is followed by personal interest courses, and then by part-time college or university degree programs. The part-time college or university degree programs made up only 5% of the participating statistics.

According to the statistics females participate more in personal interest courses and work-related activities than males.

Individuals ages 16 to 24 had a higher participation rate in adult education activities than their counterparts age 55 or older.

Blacks and whites had higher rates of overall participation in adult education than their Hispanic peers.

For those employed in the past 12 months adult education participation rates were higher for those in professional or managerial occupations (70%) as opposed to those employed in service, sales, or support jobs (48%), and those in trade occupations (34%).

Finally the statistics show that the participation rate in adult education for bachelor degrees recipients or higher was greater than for individuals who has some college or less education.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2007). The Condition of Education 2007 (NCES 2007-064), Indicator 10.