A Sequential Analysis on the Online Learning Behaviors of Chinese Adult Learners: Take the KGC Learning Platform as an Example

Abstract

The study collected the learning behaviors of 179 adult learners, including video learning, page document learning, assignment submission, and so on. In order to find out the characteristics of online learning behavior of adult learners and provide enlightenment for the improvement of online courses and learning platform design, this paper adopts Lag Sequential Analysis to explore the sequence of learners’ behavior transformation. By comparing the behavioral transformation sequence of adult learners with different efficiency, this paper explores the factors influencing learning efficiency. The study found 92 kinds of significant behavioral transformation sequences, reflecting the characteristics of adult learners, such as task-oriented, active exploration and strong self-regulation ability. It is also found that highly efficient learners prefer selective and fast playing pattern, while low efficient learners prefer non-differentiated fast repetition of playing pattern. From this we can get the enlightenment that is helpful to the design of learning platform.