Navigating Uncertainty in Digitally Mediated Adult Learning

ABSTRACT

Digital technology is now the primary infrastructure for adult learning, shifting uncertainty from a temporary hurdle to a defining condition. This chapter traces this evolution through five eras—from correspondence education to modern platform ecosystems—analyzing how each has reshaped learner autonomy and authority. Focusing on extended reality, learning analytics, and AI, the text weighs pedagogical benefits against risks like surveillance, algorithmic bias, and cognitive offloading. The author argues that adult education must move beyond mere technical efficiency. Instead, it should foster critical digital literacy and adaptive judgment through frameworks like connectivism and heutagogy. By prioritizing human‐centered design and transparent data practices, educators can empower learners to remain resilient and agentic within an increasingly unstable digital landscape.