DSW Showcase Student Presentation

Leah Selvy

MSW, MS, DSW Candidate

Examining the connection between online learning and the academic achievement of older adults based on different learning styles.

Concentration - Social Work Education

Abstract

There has been an increase in the number of older adult learners entering four-year universities to obtain a social work degree. Older adults, specifically 55 and older, are adapting to technology use while seeking online education. This capstone calls for the examination of how colleges and their professors can meet the needs of online adult learners while improving student engagement, student success, and student-teacher relationships. A literature review was conducted to answer the research question, “Are bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees that offer online courses effective for the learning styles of older adults?” After meeting the inclusionary requirement, 8 articles were accessed and revealed that student engagement, connection, interaction, and relationship building with professors are important for student success and satisfaction. Professors and universities are not engaging and offering supportive services to online adult students as they are in the classroom setting. The literature review exposed a gap in the research, mainly because of little evidence of a correlation between online education and older adults’ learning styles, particularly kinesthetic and virtual. The conceptual paper explored the Social Learning Theory and eLearning Theory to dive deeper into understanding how to meet older adult learners’ online educational needs. The concept shared aligned with the results discussed in the literature review. The application paper identified and implemented a new approach, homing in on professors’ engagement, training needs and incorporating various ways of teaching for their online adult learners, who will have a higher increase in online enrollment in social work courses within the next decade.

Biography

Leah Selvy, MSW, MS, DSW Candidate, has twenty-four years of experience in the social work field, specifically with at-risk case management, child welfare, performance management and data for the State of North Carolina, quality assurance, and adult services. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from North Carolina Central University, a Master of Social Work from Norfolk State University, and a Master of Science in Human Services from Capella University. She is currently a Doctor of Social Work candidate at the University of Kentucky, with an expected graduation in May 2025, concentrating on social work education.

Mrs. Selvy is an Aging and Adult Services Social Worker at the Durham County Department of Social Services, providing case management services and support to adult consumers. Her approach is to empower, uplift, and connect individuals to community programs and resources. Her current research focuses on the intersection between various learning styles of older adults, their strive to obtain an online college degree, as well as their adaptation to the digital world.

Her capstone project examines the connection between online learning and the academic achievement of older adults based on different learning styles, specifically kinesthetic and visual learning. In November 2021, Mrs. Selvy received a social work profession recognition award from the Rho Zeta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Mrs. Selvy has gone above and beyond to be a better resource, guide, and community change agent. She has demonstrated this through her work, volunteerism, and passion for helping others.