How are online courses different from a regular face-to-face class?
An online college class “simulates” a traditional classroom. A group of students begins a course at the same time and proceeds through the lessons week by week until the end of the semester. Students find their syllabus and weekly assignments and activities on the Internet site. Lessons and assignments are fully explained on the course pages, and regular contact with the instructor is encouraged. Unlike coming to class at regular intervals, you are not required to be on the web at a specific time. Being self-directed is a good trait for online students. As in a traditional classroom, online students read/study a textbook, complete assignments, take quizzes and exams, or complete group or team assignments, but class discussions are carried out online. These “threaded” discussions are a series of linked messages created over time as users read and reply to existing messages; in other words, an online conversation.
