Conchi, This is not uncommon on the part of adult learners. There are many reasons for this but one of the main ones is what you have listed. They are fearful of being judged or if not judged at least seen as not be ready to be successful in the course. They have been out of school for a number of years and their self confidence is low because they don't feel that they have the skills in technology needed to be competitive in the course. So anything that instructors can do to help students be successful early in the course so they can build their self confidence and when they do this you will find that they start to share more and contribute at a greater level in the course. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.