An analysis of the implications of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs for networked learning design and delivery

The Hierarchy of Needs proposed by Abraham Maslow has been adopted by many groups of practitioners as a way to understand their customers and users. It argues that there are universal human needs, namely physiological, security/safety, social, self-esteem/ego and self-actualisation. Maslow contests that unless the former of these are met, the latter cannot be. This paper demonstrates the need for the continual review and modification of teaching and learning plans to meet the changing needs of learners, which in this case relates to considering the impact of networked learning.