Inner landscapes : the use of online discussion in adult education as a vehicle for encouraging critical self-reflection

The transformative potential of learning is an underlying principle of STEPS, an enabling program offered at CQUniversity. When first offered in external mode there were concerns that STEPS would be reduced to a skills-based program, rather than providing an enriching and potentially life-changing experience. This paper describes the challenges involved in creating opportunities for external students to engage in critical self-reflection in a meaningful way. The study found that the online environment did not appear to pose an obstacle to a group of adult learners exploring their ‘inner landscapes’ – the more personal and potentially transformative aspects of their learning journeys.