| This exploratory study used the Delphi research method to develop the Online Adult Learning Inventory, an instrument to apply the principles of adult learning to Web-based instruction and training. The instrument is a new tool for educators and trainers for the purpose of developing and evaluating online courses for adults. A panel of twelve experts in the fields of adult learning, instructional design, and online course development constructed the instrument as a checklist and validated its content. Principles of adult learning provided the structure of the instrument and instructional methods that apply adult learning principles to online courses made up the body of the instrument. A field test gave an indication of moderate to high reliability.;A pioneering feature of this study was the construction of a website and conducting the Delphi process on the Web. A threaded discussion forum was used by the experts to edit the adult learning principle construct appropriate to online adult learning, then to develop a list of instructional methods that applied each principle to online learning, The experts were assigned pennames for anonymity. Web forms were used for voting to determine consensus for each item of the instrument. The website also served as an archive for draft instruments, previous discussions, and the results of votes. |
