One of the most significant goals in what is the extremely complex and ever-changing field of education is to create a learning environment that not only stimulates academic achievement but also encourages students to surpass the expectations set for them. In addition, the learners’ ability to exceed self-imposed (and perhaps false) personal limitations is another crucial factor. It is therefore of key importance to analyse the conditions for a successful educational experience, and how this transformation should proceed. This article highlights the learners and educators’ perspectives about the factors which influence the provision of the most effective learning environment and consequently, promote the maximum individual achievement of each learner. The study focuses on the internal and external variables which influence educational success. Over the past few decades, the embedding of the internet into all factors of daily life, with constantly evolving software and website provision, together with the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), have had a significant effect on the ‘how and when’ of educational provision. Both what may be termed ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ areas of education were considered in this study (that is, traditional educational provision, and where learning also takes place in the pursuit of hobbies and interests). In both these areas, successful learning will involve the development of self-efficacy, reflective practice, confidence, motivation, attitude toward learning and many other factors. The research explores the learners’ experience on how to overcome perceived limitations that effect their confidence, motivation and attitude towards learning and future opportunities.
Gluoksnyte et al. (2025) studied this question.