How do online courses work?
In Aims online courses, you learn entirely online, using your computer with Internet access. Some classes require one on-campus orientation session and/or testing in an on-campus lab or at another proctored site. The course content is presented through web pages, audio/video presentations and other means. Communication tools, such as web-based chat rooms, message boards and email, allow students to interact with the instructor and other classmates. Assignments may be uploaded to the site, which is much like creating an attachment in email.
All online courses rely on asynchronous discussion and collaboration as the principal form of communication. Course content is broken into weekly modules. Via a Web-based system (Blackboard), class members interact extensively with one another and the instructor(s). Students may participate anytime day or night, when their schedule allows while still meeting due dates for weekly assignments.
While students do not have to access courses at a specific time, there are definite beginning/ending dates and courses are not self-paced. Assignments are typically due each week just as in traditional college courses. Successful students usually access their online courses 4 to 5 times per week in order to keep up. Most reading, research and writing are done the same as with traditional courses.
