The online environment is different from a traditional classroom. What are the major differences?

Commitment and Self-motivation

Online courses are not easier than the traditional classroom. In fact, many of our students feel they require more time and effort. For a 3 semester hour course, you should plan 9 to 12 hours of work on your online course a week in order to be successful. You should login to your course every day, and at an absolute minimum of 5 to 6 times a week. Check postings to the bulletin board, your mail, your course syllabus, and your email. Also check for changes to the course schedule in the course calendar and course readings. If you let too much time go by, you may find yourself unaware of important deadlines or too far behind to catch up.

While online courses offer greater flexibility, they demand personal responsibility from you as the student. You can do your course work when you desire, but instructors want work submitted according to a schedule. To keep up with the course flow, the student needs to be committed and complete assignments on time.

Participation

In an online learning environment, the spontaneous responses of the traditional room are not a necessity. There are opportunities to contribute your ideas, perspectives, and comments on the material you are studying and to share your life, work, and educational experiences. This type of communication will eliminate the visual barriers imposed by online learning. Most classes are no larger than 25 students and usually smaller. This will allow you to get to know your instructor and peers.

The virtual classroom is open 24 hours a day. You will have time to ponder your responses and course input, so that you can provide meaningful and quality replies, but be prepared to accept challenges. When your peers and instructor join in this collective effort, a rich, new type of learning occurs. Read other students work when it is submitted to the bulletin board. Don't be afraid to contact them via the "chat" or through course e-mail and share comments about their work. Make a point to ask your instructor on a regular basis about your progress.

Resolving Problems

Resolving problems at a distance can pose some challenges. Online students need to be assertive in order to make their needs known. Many of the nonverbal cues instructors use in the traditional classroom are not present in the virtual classroom. So if you're having problems (technical or learning related), your instructor may not know. Never assume your instructor sees the problem. You have to communicate these problems to the instructor. Also don't be afraid to "chat" or mail students within your course for assistance. This type of communication bonds the class and generates an additional venue for learning. The bottom line is simple - stay in touch with your instructor, even when things are going great.

Communicate Through Writing

Within the virtual environment, most communication is written. It is critical that you feel comfortable expressing yourself in writing. You also need to be comfortable reading the work of other students in your course. If you have limited writing abilities, you may want to reconsider the virtual classroom until you gain additional experience with writing.