Nicholette N. Mutenda Adults are competent and thrive on being seen and taken seriously. Their learning process is strengthened if they are empowered. I would suggest an action research approach where you try to facilitate participation. The reason for this is making the learning process as relevant for the participants as possible. Links to literature:

http://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/3893/1/Whitehead_LivingTheoryResearch.pdf and https://mthoyibi.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/action-research_living-theory_jack-whitehead-and-jean-mciff-2006.pdf

Basic questions in this kind of research is: "How can we improve our practice?" In this way you can answer most of the research questions you are suggesting. I like the following of your two suggestions:

The role of adult learning/ education in communities

The benefits of lifelong learning within communities

Jack Whitehead and Jean McNiff are often used when adult learning is a topic. They also have a several wonderful books like: "Doing and Writing Action Reseach" (McNiff & Whitehead 2009) and McNiffs own book: "Writing and doing action research" (2014) - they are similar.

Factors affecting technology focused adult learning activities

Dear Ms. Nicholette Mutenda,

In the attachment of this message, I provide you with a brief overview of adult education theories by Robert Leamnson so you can orient yourself in your research.

Please find the attached document as a PDF file

I hope I have been of some help.

Yours sincerely,

Andrija

Andrija Kozina Assistant Professor Thank you very much i will go through the theories.

Kjartan Skogly Kversøy Thank you i will go through the attachments.

Dr-Ariful Islam kindly give me a background on " technology focused adult learning activities" so as to know more on the topic. At our distance department we are using Moodle (a learning management system) as a learning platform for our distance students can you link the topic that.

you could deal with enhancing adult intercultural communication through Technology-Based Learning.

Mounya Abdaoui Any background information or a summary to guide me on what you are suggesting.

kindly check the below articles:

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/8/5/154/pdf

https://www.academia.edu/13174502/Adult_Learning_in_a_Digital_Age_Effective_Use_of_Technologies_for_Adult_Learners

https://www.academia.edu/13174502/Adult_Learning_in_a_Digital_Age_Effective_Use_of_Technologies_for_Adult_Learners

https://scholarsphere.psu.edu/downloads/3xs55m9505

These are broad topics in adult learning, with lots of published material. I would recommend selecting one of the topics you mentioned—one that interests you most—and looking at the published literature on them. As you read, see if there are any gaps you can find in the context, relevant questions missed, or different methods you can use.

Daniel A. Parker Thank you very much good ideas.

• What technology is most effective with adult learners in a distance setting?
• Which is most effective for adult distance learners, internal motivation or external motivation?

I am currently in my dissertation phase of my PhD. I believe your topic is important and should have much research associated with a strong literature review. I agree with Daniel Parker...after reviewing literature, see if there are gaps that align with your specific interests of adult learning. My dissertation research is looking at the experiences of learners who completed a first-year program that assisted in developing academics and persistence for underprepared learners. Although they are first-year learners, I contend they are adult learners as well. Best wishes with your study.

John Downing Thank you very much i will review the literature.